Join the new world

In the real world, we're all well acquainted with certain aspects of political life. During election cycles, it is quite regular to read opinion polls and hear analysts on the television talk about what they mean. To some people, this sort of analysis is all smoke and mirrors. "Numbers don't lie, but liars figure" is an oft quoted anecdote.

[img]http://www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au/cartoons/new/2002-09-03%20Sept%20Democrats%20draw%20line%20newspoll%20flop%20510.JPG[/img]

However, this sort of distrust is misplaced. Polling data and models of statistical analysis can often be invaluable tools. If properly done, up-to-date polling data nearly always predicts electoral outcomes with uncanny accuracy, usually -- if not within -- close to the margin of error.



It is a complex field of high-level mathematics and statistics, but it is no longer going to be inaccessible to citizens of the eUnited Kingdom. Please allow me to unveil, officially, for the first time, the creation of Wellington Chase Statistics.

Within the next week, should technology and the API allow, we at Wellington Chase Statistics will be putting our first statistical package in the field. This will consist of a 25-question survey with a sample size of about 200. We're anticipating a margin of error between 5% and 6%. The exact information will be included when the research is done.



If all goes according to plan, within a few days of the survey's completion, we will release, publicly, the first basic results of the polling. For anyone interested, we will share with them a .pdf I plan to create that will include the questionnaire, responses percentages, methodology, and analysis.

After that, every two weeks or so (probably more like one and a half weeks to keep up with election cycles), we will be putting another polling cycle in the field. Some active members of the eUK national forums have already participated in a small scale alpha test of our survey.

Our polls will include approval ratings for the House of Commons, majority party, and the Prime Minister. It will also include support levels for our institutions, the various parties, and for political questions. We will also begin tracking demographics and opinions on political issues of the day.



Also, for those that are interested, the following initiatives are being planned if we have the manpower:
-Paid !! allowing subscribers regular, in-dept access to the results of our WCS packages.
-The ability to purchase "tailor made" surveys and have the raw data delivered to you.
-The future may, even, include rough campaign planning and opposition research services.

So, stay tuned! If you want, you can head on over and befriend our organization! We'll have a newspaper up over there soon!

Thanks!