Results for the 2003 Values Update survey are based on telephone interviews conducted under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates among a nationwide sample of 2,528 adults, 18 years of age or older, during the period July 14 – August 5, 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 2 percentage points. For results based on the half samples of either Form 1 (N=1,284) or Form 2 (N=1,244) the sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. For results based on the quarter samples of either Form 1A (N=650) or Form 1B (N=634) the sampling error is 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.
