German pollster fooled

Published July 30, 2003

HAMBURG: A German polling organization that reckoned half of all Germans were unable to identify Gerhard Schroeder as the nation’s chancellor has taken it all back: it seems many of the people it questioned were just joking.

The respected Forsa institute boasted on Saturday some of the first findings produced by its latest technology: interactive digital television control pads used by a representative sample of 1,630 Germans.

The numbers were shocking: 99 per cent of those surveyed in May were able to identify Schroeder’s photograph, but only 51 per cent were able to correctly state what governmental post he holds. Three days later it was the pollsters, not the German public, that looked stupid.

It turns out that many respondents, when asked the unpopular Schroeder’s job title, could not resist being funny.

Knowingly sarcastic answers like “trainee chancellor”, “our mighty chief”, “bankruptcy administrator” or “Berlin money launderer” were all interpreted as “don’t know” by the serious-minded pollsters.

Forsa chief Manfred Guellner also admitted on Tuesday to the newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung that mis-spelled answers where just one letter of “federal chancellor” was misplaced, or the word “federal” was left out, were also marked wrong.

After a reviewer with a more sophisticated sense of humour sorted through the answers, the score was lifted from 51 to 80 per cent, which is on a par with past surveys of general knowledge.

The mass-circulation daily Bild, always the friend of the little man, was gleeful on Tuesday, pouring scorn on the “inept” Forsa.—dpa

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...