Comments on: What is it with YouGov and female voters? http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-is-it-with-yougov-and-female-voters-3538.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:38:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paul McKeown http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-is-it-with-yougov-and-female-voters-3538.html#comment-135028 Paul McKeown Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:40:08 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3538#comment-135028 "It’s a well-established pattern that during this Parliament internet pollster YouGov consistently gives the Liberal Democrats lower levels of support than other pollsters" Interesting that 2 years later the problem should appear to be even worse. “It’s a well-established pattern that during this Parliament internet pollster YouGov consistently gives the Liberal Democrats lower levels of support than other pollsters”

Interesting that 2 years later the problem should appear to be even worse.

]]> By: LJH http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-is-it-with-yougov-and-female-voters-3538.html#comment-61566 LJH Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:48:48 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3538#comment-61566 How funny that the above Tories felt they needed to come scuttling along mob-handed to loudly defend YouGov - thereby merely succeeding in reinforcing the impression that something murky is going on. In my experience, the pollster's preferred tactic is to minimise any chance whatsoever for panel members to say they support the Lib Dems by consistently failing to mention the party in any shape or form. Thus, week after week, they ask: "What have you heard this week about Labour/The Conservatives?" Or "Who do you trust to run the country most - Brown and Cameron?" Or they refer to the "two major parties." And they just never mention the Lib Dems if they can possibly avoid it. So don't tell me that their bloody polling is "unpalatable to centrists" or "tapping into results that other pollsters can't get" when what's actually going on is plain old-fashioned bias - right there in the survey design and transparently obvious, I'm afraid. What I've always wondered is, why on earth did we fall for the idea that a company involving Stephan Shakespeare in a senior role would ever be any different? So, what's the best thing for Lib Dems to do? Leave the panel and refuse to give them credibility? Or stick with them because it's better to be on the inside, being a little stone in the aforementioned Mr Shakespeare's shoe? How funny that the above Tories felt they needed to come scuttling along mob-handed to loudly defend YouGov – thereby merely succeeding in reinforcing the impression that something murky is going on.

In my experience, the pollster’s preferred tactic is to minimise any chance whatsoever for panel members to say they support the Lib Dems by consistently failing to mention the party in any shape or form.

Thus, week after week, they ask: “What have you heard this week about Labour/The Conservatives?” Or “Who do you trust to run the country most – Brown and Cameron?” Or they refer to the “two major parties.”

And they just never mention the Lib Dems if they can possibly avoid it.

So don’t tell me that their bloody polling is “unpalatable to centrists” or “tapping into results that other pollsters can’t get” when what’s actually going on is plain old-fashioned bias – right there in the survey design and transparently obvious, I’m afraid.

What I’ve always wondered is, why on earth did we fall for the idea that a company involving Stephan Shakespeare in a senior role would ever be any different?

So, what’s the best thing for Lib Dems to do?

Leave the panel and refuse to give them credibility?

Or stick with them because it’s better to be on the inside, being a little stone in the aforementioned Mr Shakespeare’s shoe?

]]> By: Mark Pack http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-is-it-with-yougov-and-female-voters-3538.html#comment-60332 Mark Pack Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:26:21 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3538#comment-60332 Ian: YouGov weren't political polling in 2001 so I'm not sure how they could have got it spot on :-) In 2005 their final election poll was pretty accurate - but not significantly more or less accurate than those from other (conventional) polling companies. It wasn't the most accurate though and ironically was slightly worse than MORI, though of course in this year's London Mayor polling YouGov did better than MORI. On the other hand, YouGov look to have significantly over-stated UKIP support in the last European Parliament elections. That's far from the open and closed "YouGov is the best" record that you presented. Ian: YouGov weren’t political polling in 2001 so I’m not sure how they could have got it spot on :-)

In 2005 their final election poll was pretty accurate – but not significantly more or less accurate than those from other (conventional) polling companies.

It wasn’t the most accurate though and ironically was slightly worse than MORI, though of course in this year’s London Mayor polling YouGov did better than MORI. On the other hand, YouGov look to have significantly over-stated UKIP support in the last European Parliament elections.

That’s far from the open and closed “YouGov is the best” record that you presented.

]]> By: Ian Mc http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-is-it-with-yougov-and-female-voters-3538.html#comment-60319 Ian Mc Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:03:26 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3538#comment-60319 The fact is that You Gov is the most accurate of all the opinion pollers. You Gov got the 2001 and 2005 general election results spot on. They also got the Mayor of London result with pin point accuracy. Ken made an arse of himself when he reported YouGov to the Opinion Poll association saying there must be something wrong with their methods because he did not like the results. Just because you don't like the result does not make it wrong. Ask Livingstone!! Lets face it the Lib Dems are likely to be wiped out at the next general election. In 97 people voted Lib Dem because they wanted to get rid of the Tories. Those same people now want rid of Labour. They will use the same tactics and vote Conservative. The fact is that You Gov is the most accurate of all the opinion pollers. You Gov got the 2001 and 2005 general election results spot on.

They also got the Mayor of London result with pin point accuracy. Ken made an arse of himself when he reported YouGov to the Opinion Poll association saying there must be something wrong with their methods because he did not like the results.

Just because you don’t like the result does not make it wrong. Ask Livingstone!!

Lets face it the Lib Dems are likely to be wiped out at the next general election. In 97 people voted Lib Dem because they wanted to get rid of the Tories. Those same people now want rid of Labour. They will use the same tactics and vote Conservative.

]]> By: Matthew Cain http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-is-it-with-yougov-and-female-voters-3538.html#comment-60295 Matthew Cain Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:10:47 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3538#comment-60295 Whilst YouGov's results are often unpalatable for many on the centre / left, they are right more often than not. That's because they have smoked out the hidden Tory vote that other pollsters have not discovered. Many of these are likely to be women, more inclined to admit their Tory preference online and anonymously than face to face over the phone. Whilst YouGov’s results are often unpalatable for many on the centre / left, they are right more often than not. That’s because they have smoked out the hidden Tory vote that other pollsters have not discovered. Many of these are likely to be women, more inclined to admit their Tory preference online and anonymously than face to face over the phone.

]]> By: Carol-Ann http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-is-it-with-yougov-and-female-voters-3538.html#comment-60278 Carol-Ann Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:44:15 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3538#comment-60278 I think You Gov have it right. They are the pollsters that have been the most accurate and in my experience support for Tories is higher among women than men. I think You Gov have it right. They are the pollsters that have been the most accurate and in my experience support for Tories is higher among women than men.

]]> By: christina speight http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-is-it-with-yougov-and-female-voters-3538.html#comment-60260 christina speight Sun, 07 Sep 2008 11:14:20 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3538#comment-60260 I'm female but not young. I find the LibDems as an alternative to the totally disastrous Labour unthinkable. Apart from Vince Cable there is no coherence just endless search for bandwagons to jump on. AND the LibDems have sold their souls to (1) the false windfarm / man-made gglobal warming scam and (2) thew EU. NO THANKS. So without much enthusiasm it must be the Tories. I’m female but not young. I find the LibDems as an alternative to the totally disastrous Labour unthinkable. Apart from Vince Cable there is no coherence just endless search for bandwagons to jump on. AND the LibDems have sold their souls to (1) the false windfarm / man-made gglobal warming scam and (2) thew EU. NO THANKS.

So without much enthusiasm it must be the Tories.

]]> By: Jennie http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-is-it-with-yougov-and-female-voters-3538.html#comment-60254 Jennie Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:58:10 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3538#comment-60254 I suspect it's not methodology, but age. YouGov, by dint of being entirely online, will skew towards young and educated. I have lost count of the people I know, particularly female, younger than me who have <strike>fallen for Cameron's bullshit</strike> decided it's time for us to have a Tory government. I suspect it’s not methodology, but age. YouGov, by dint of being entirely online, will skew towards young and educated. I have lost count of the people I know, particularly female, younger than me who have fallen for Cameron’s bullshit decided it’s time for us to have a Tory government.

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