A question about the accuracy of Polls like the Gallup Polls?

Why does the Gallup polls and others like them ,poll such a small number of USA citizens then say the results are what the country think or feel ?
The Gallup Polls talked to 1,005 USA citizens about the health care passage.
There were 305529237: U.S. population estimate for Jan. 1, 2009
What percentage would that be?

Why single out Gallup? Rasmussen's daily results are a 3-day rolling average of 1500 people (500 a night).

Obviously no poll can sample everyone. They use a variety of methods to effectively randomize the people selected and they can then construct confidence levels using statistics principles.

Exactly. From what I can remember of my stats class, the samples have to be representative of the demographic they want to get results from.
So in this case, they can't ask all democrats, or all republicans for example. They have to have a good sampling of each.

Your right. I will go edit the topic to say polls like the Gallup Polls.
And I realise no Poll can ask everyone in the country . But surveying 1,005 people out of over 305529237 and then saying it's how the country thinks/says/feels just seems a bit silly.

The stats people have evolved this science over the years. they have to prove that it will represent the demographic. Also, if you look at most polls it will say something like the results shown may actually be 2-5% (for example only) of actual opinions. There is a math equation to come up with that percent also.

And it's really closer to 230,173,211 since they do not poll those under the age of 18.

You should go take a statistics course and at least learn a little bit about the academic discipline before you call the field "silly" and insult thousands of highly educated, generally very well-paid individuals.

Better than how I put it I actually enjoyed the stats class I had to take.

Okay look here.
The gallup Polls say they polled 1,005 people and they say

https://www.gallup.com/poll/126929/Slim-Margin-Americans-Support-Healthcare-Bill-Passage.aspx

Rasmussen's reports say they polled 1000 people and they say

https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/march_2010/49_support_state_lawsuits_against_health_care_plan


While my reading a few sites and reports about how these polls work and how they come up with their results in no way takes the place of a statistics course .


I ask the question after I seen the two polls and their opposites results on the same topic.

The first poll asked about the passage of the health care bill and the second poll asked about states suing over the bill.

Completely different questions.

If Rasmussen and Gallup used the exact same methodology and the same questions, they would get very similar results. The basic assumption is that no matter who conducted the same survey at the same time, they would have gotten the same results claimed by the pollster, within the confidence range given.

But they're asking different questions on different topics in slightly different ways. It's no surprise they got different results.

From the Rasmussen one



From the Gullup poll



so given the allowance of the percentage point of errors they are close!

By the way, it's "Merle Haggard."

and Jonny is paying closer attention than me today

After reading the concept of the methodology and how it pertains to the polls and how it is applied by the researchers or poll takers, I think I am getting a better understanding of the whole 'concept' of Polls like the Gallup Polls.

Yes it is and I noticed my mistake yesterday and have meant to fix it just haven't yet. Thanks.