Why is it important for a poll in psychology to be conducted scientifically rather than informally?

• A. Scientific polls use systematic sampling and controls to reduce bias, ensuring results are reliable and generalizable.
• B. Informal polls guarantee anonymity, which makes the data more valid.
• C. Scientific polls are less expensive and require fewer participants than informal polls.
• D. Informal polls are always more accurate because they reflect immediate opinions.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the purpose of conducting polls in psychology, which is to gather data that accurately represents the views or behaviors of a larger population.
2. Recognize that scientific polls use systematic sampling methods, meaning participants are selected in a way that reduces bias and ensures the sample is representative of the population.
3. Identify that scientific polls include controls and standardized procedures to minimize errors and external influences, which helps in obtaining reliable and valid results.
4. Contrast this with informal polls, which often lack systematic sampling and controls, making their results less reliable and less generalizable to the broader population.
5. Conclude that scientific polling is important because it ensures the data collected can be trusted to reflect true patterns or opinions, which is essential for drawing meaningful psychological conclusions.