Public survey
Encyclopedia
A public survey is a list of questions aimed at extracting specific data from a particular group of people. Surveys may be conducted by phone, mail, via the internet, and sometimes face-to-face on busy street corners or in malls. The census
is the most widely-known form of public survey, and is conducted every ten years in the United States by the federal government
. Some form of census is performed with varying degrees of accuracy in almost every nation, with the results used to determine governmental budgets and taxation. Law enforcement and other public services such as public schools depend upon accurate census information.
Another form of public survey originated with the Nielsen
company, surveying people's media habits. Nielsen surveys ask people questions about the use of television, radio, print media, and the internet. Demographic information obtained from surveys results in the formation of prediction markets and increases understanding of social networks. The concept of opinion leadership
, explains how the more educated and affluent members of society channel information gleaned from mass media to others in their social groups.
ian government's census mentioned in the Bible
at the time of the Exodus
.
The most famous public survey in America is the national census. Held every ten years, the census attempts to count all persons, and also obtain demographic data about factors such as household income, ethnicity, and religion. The most recent survey was conducted in 2000, the results of which are available online at http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html
Nielsen ratings
are another example of public surveys.
Nielsen ratings track media-viewing habits (radio, television, internet, print) the results of which are used to make decisions by and about the mass media. Some Nielsen ratings localize the data points to give marketing firms more specific information with which to target customers. Demographic data is also used to understand what influences work best to market consumer products, political campaigns, etc.
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
is the most widely-known form of public survey, and is conducted every ten years in the United States by the federal government
Federal government
The federal government is the common government of a federation. The structure of federal governments varies from institution to institution. Based on a broad definition of a basic federal political system, there are two or more levels of government that exist within an established territory and...
. Some form of census is performed with varying degrees of accuracy in almost every nation, with the results used to determine governmental budgets and taxation. Law enforcement and other public services such as public schools depend upon accurate census information.
Another form of public survey originated with the Nielsen
Nielsen
Nielsen , is a Danish patronymic surname, literally meaning son of Niels, Niels being the Danish version of the Greek male given name Νικόλαος, Nikolaos . It is the second most common surname in Denmark, shared by about 5% of the population. It is also used in Norway, although the form Nelsen and...
company, surveying people's media habits. Nielsen surveys ask people questions about the use of television, radio, print media, and the internet. Demographic information obtained from surveys results in the formation of prediction markets and increases understanding of social networks. The concept of opinion leadership
Opinion leadership
Opinion leadership is a concept that arises out of the theory of two-step flow of communication propounded by Paul Lazarsfeld and Elihu Katz. This theory is one of several models that try to explain the diffusion of innovations, ideas, or commercial products....
, explains how the more educated and affluent members of society channel information gleaned from mass media to others in their social groups.
History
Public surveys have been used since the dawn of civilization and officially date back to the EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian government's census mentioned in the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
at the time of the Exodus
The Exodus
The Exodus is the story of the departure of the Israelites from ancient Egypt described in the Hebrew Bible.Narrowly defined, the term refers only to the departure from Egypt described in the Book of Exodus; more widely, it takes in the subsequent law-givings and wanderings in the wilderness...
.
The most famous public survey in America is the national census. Held every ten years, the census attempts to count all persons, and also obtain demographic data about factors such as household income, ethnicity, and religion. The most recent survey was conducted in 2000, the results of which are available online at http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html
Nielsen ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
are another example of public surveys.
Nielsen ratings track media-viewing habits (radio, television, internet, print) the results of which are used to make decisions by and about the mass media. Some Nielsen ratings localize the data points to give marketing firms more specific information with which to target customers. Demographic data is also used to understand what influences work best to market consumer products, political campaigns, etc.