Opinion polls. The presidential election campaign is in full swing, and the candidates have hired polling organizations to take regular polls to find out what the voters think about the issues. What information should the pollsters be required to give out?

(a) What does the standard of informed consent require the pollsters to tell potential respondents?

Chapter 7 Exercises 139

(b) The standards accepted by polling organizations also require giving respondents the name and address of the organization that carries out the poll. Why do you think this is required?

(c) The polling organization usually has a professional name such as “Samples Incorporated,” so respondents don’t know that the poll is being paid for by a political party or candidate. Would revealing the sponsor to respondents bias the poll? Should the sponsor always be announced whenever poll results are made public?

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