How the networks reported poll data in the presidential election of 1988

The American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) developed eight standards which represent eight methodological concerns of survey data. These standards also reflect the standards of several other associations. This thesis looks at how often the three broadcast networks reported the AAPOR standards and examines other variables such as where the networks placed presidential poll stories in their newscasts, if the anchors or reporters offered an interpretation of results, and if the anchors or reporters made comparisons of one poll to another. This thesis is a content analysis of all poll stories that aired on the networks from January 1, 1988 to November 6, 1988 (the day before election day). The results showed that the networks did not report the standards a majority of the time. They also showed that the networks reported more standards for their own in-house polls than for outside poll data.