FAQS
Ordering a Survey
- Why is the sample for state surveys fixed at 500 and for national surveys fixed at 1,000?
- What is the margin of error for a Pulse poll?
- How can I be sure candidates names are pronounced correctly?
- Will someone from Pulse help me design questions?
- Are there restrictions on the types of questions I can ask?
- What are the standard questions listed on the site?
- What if I need a survey done faster than the standard lead times?
Why is the sample for state surveys fixed at 500 and for national surveys fixed at 1,000?
Our experience in the polling arena has shown that samples of 500 for state or local surveys and samples of 1,000 for national surveys generate accurate results. If you would like to increase the sample sizes over our standard amounts you can request pricing in the same manner as if it was a custom survey.
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What is the margin of error for a Pulse poll?
The margin or sampling error on a survey of 500 is +/- 4.5% with a 95% level of confidence. The margin of sampling error on a survey of 1,000 is +/- 3% with a 95% level of confidence.
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How can I be sure candidates names are pronounced correctly?
To be sure that we record the pronunciation of candidates names, cities, or other references that may not be intuitive you can do one or all of the following:
1. Paste the web addresses, in the space provided,of videos that we can view and listen to the correct pronunciation.
2. Write in phonetic pronunications of the names in the space provide when you place the order.
3. Call (800) 975-5166 with the correct pronunciations. Be sure to leave you order number which is provided upon order completion.
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Will someone from Pulse help me design questions?
For standard pricing, Pulse Opinion Research will review your question submission one time and provide one set of edits. We will not research and design survey questions for you, but in the edit we will attempt to design the question in the most efficient way.
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Are there restrictions on the types of questions I can ask?
Because Pulse Opinion Research uses automated polling technology open-ended or multiple choice questions cannot be asked.
An open-ended question is one that asks a question without supplying responses. For example, you cannot ask "What Do You Think of candidate John Smith?", but you can ask, "Do you have a Very Favorable, Somewhat Favorable, Somewhat Unfavorable or Very Unfavorable opinion of candidate John Smith?"
In addition, you can not ask someone to choose multiple answers. For example, you cannot ask "Choose the top three ways you plan to save for retirement?" but you can ask, "Which is the best way to plan for retirement: a 401K, private investments or a fixed-rate savings account?"
Questions must be asked in a way where only one answer can be chosen.
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What are the standard questions listed on the site?
We provide a list of standard questions for two reasons:
- The list gives you examples of how to ask questions.
- You can use any of the standard questions in one of your surveys if you choose.
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What if I need a survey done faster than the standard lead times?
If you need a survey done faster than our standard lead time, then your poll is considered a custom survey and will be priced accordingly. See FAQ about our custom surveys to learn more.
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