Question
Why would someone seek to manipulate a poll?
to prove polling doesn’t work
to influence politicians or voters
to accurately represent the truth
to prove polling doesn’t work
to influence politicians or voters
to accurately represent the truth
Ask by Ruiz Floyd. in the United States
Mar 28,2025
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
Someone manipulates a poll to influence politicians or voters.
Solution
-
Understand the Options
- Option 1: Manipulate a poll to prove polling doesn’t work.
- Option 2: Manipulate a poll to influence politicians or voters.
- Option 3: Manipulate a poll to accurately represent the truth.
-
Evaluate the Options
-
Option 3 is contradictory in nature. Poll manipulation is by definition the act of altering results or perceptions, which means it does not accurately represent the truth. Mathematically, if we let
represent the truthful representation, then manipulation introduces a bias such that the reported result becomes: Since, it follows that . -
Option 1 suggests that someone might manipulate a poll to prove that polling doesn’t work. While this might be a fringe motive in some cases, it is less common because poll manipulation is typically used to serve other, more impactful goals rather than to undermine the polling process itself.
-
Option 2 indicates that manipulation is done to influence politicians or voters. This is a common motive because altering public opinion—or the perception of it—can affect political decisions and voter behavior.
-
-
ConclusionGiven the evaluation above, the most reasonable purpose is:
Therefore, the correct answer is: to influence politicians or voters.
Answered by UpStudy AI and reviewed by a Professional Tutor
Like
error msg
Explain 
Simplify this solution Extra Insights
Some individuals or organizations may seek to manipulate a poll to sway public opinion or influence decision-makers. By presenting biased data, they can create a false narrative that might lead politicians to adjust their policies or strategies based on the skewed results. This can be particularly effective during elections, where even a slight shift in perceived support can affect voter turnout and behavior.
On the flip side, there’s the allure of showing that polling isn’t reliable. If someone could demonstrate a manipulated poll’s inaccuracy, it could undermine trust in the polling process itself. This might be done by highlighting inconsistencies in methodologies or showcasing instances where manipulated data led to misinformed decisions, ultimately prompting a debate on the validity of polls in shaping public discourse.
