What is a SLOP poll?

Answer 1

SLOP poll is based on a sample of individuals who chooseto answer a poll or survey vs. a random sample of the population, which is based on the variables of a population. An example of a SLOP poll would be choosing or declining to be interviewed in a survey while you are walking through the mall. Because the SLOP poll is self selective, there is no way that the poll will hold any real weight or represent the whole population, because we only get information on those who choose to do an interview versus the people who decline interviews.

A better way to conduct a poll is through random sampling where the persons chosen are from a selected group of variables, such as class, age, race and ethnicity, say 100 people of each race/ethnicity, or 100 people from certain age groups.