With the NSW election campaign well under way and a federal poll soon, I’m glad I stumbled across this classic explanation of how to get the answer you want from an opinion poll, courtesy of _Yes, Prime Minister_.
*Sir Humphrey:* “You know what happens: nice young lady comes up to you. Obviously you want to create a good impression, you don’t want to look a fool, do you? So she starts asking you some questions: Mr. Woolley, are you worried about the number of young people without jobs?”
*Bernard Woolley:* “Yes”
*Sir Humphrey:* “Are you worried about the rise in crime among teenagers?”
*Bernard Woolley:* “Yes”
*Sir Humphrey:* “Do you think there is a lack of discipline in our Comprehensive schools?”
*Bernard Woolley:* “Yes”
*Sir Humphrey:* “Do you think young people welcome some authority and leadership in their lives?”
*Bernard Woolley:* “Yes”
*Sir Humphrey:* “Do you think they respond to a challenge?”
*Bernard Woolley:* “Yes”
*Sir Humphrey:* “Would you be in favour of reintroducing National Service?”
*Bernard Woolley:* “Oh…well, I suppose I might be.”
*Sir Humphrey:* “Yes or no?”
*Bernard Woolley:* “Yes”
*Sir Humphrey:* “Of course you would, Bernard. After all you told you can’t say no to that. So they don’t mention the first five questions and they publish the last one.”
*Bernard Woolley:* “Is that really what they do?”
*Sir Humphrey:* “Well, not the reputable ones no, but there aren’t many of those. So alternatively the young lady can get the opposite result.”
*Bernard Woolley:* “How?”
*Sir Humphrey:* “Mr. Woolley, are you worried about the danger of war?”
*Bernard Woolley:* “Yes”
*Sir Humphrey:* “Are you worried about the growth of armaments?”
*Bernard Woolley:* “Yes”
*Sir Humphrey:* “Do you think there is a danger in giving young people guns and teaching them how to kill?”
*Bernard Woolley:* “Yes”
*Sir Humphrey:* “Do you think it is wrong to force people to take up arms against their will?”
*Bernard Woolley:* “Yes”
*Sir Humphrey:* “Would you oppose the reintroduction of National Service?”
*Bernard Woolley:* “Yes”
*Sir Humphrey:* “There you are, you see Bernard. The perfect balanced sample.”
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