Results for the February News Interest Index survey are based on telephone interviews conducted under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates among a nationwide sample of 1,254 adults, 18 years of age or older, during the period February 12-18, 2003. Based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus 3 percentage points. For results based on Form 1 (N=629) the sampling error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points; for Form 2 (N=625) the sampling error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. For results based on the Feb 12-13 “Pre-UN report” period of the survey (N=632) and the Feb 14-18 “Post-UN report” period of the survey (N=622), the sampling error is also plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.
