SWS: Survey results vary depending on names provided by poll sponsor

Survey results vary depending on the names and number of choices provided by the poll sponsor.

This was the clarification of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) after Inquirer.net noted in a report Friday that a survey commissioned by the Lakas–CMD (Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats) showed a different set of probable “Magic 12” from the survey sponsored by Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino even when both were done from September 15 to 23, 2018.

According to the SWS, results of surveys even if conducted in the same period and among “same set of respondents” would have varying results because each would depend on the names provided by the poll sponsor as well as the number of choices fielded in the questionnaire.

“The number of names in the list affects the way voters chose their candidates, as well as the final outcome in the share/percentage of votes,” Leo Laroza, SWS Director for Communications and Information Technology told Inquirer.net in text message yesterday.

“The Tolentino (commissioned survey) list has 24 names, while the Pagulayan list has 39,” he added, noting that the sponsors of the commissioned surveys were the ones who provided the lists.

SWS said it used the same set of respondents on the two surveys.

The surveys used face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide: 600 in Luzon, and 300 each in Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao.

Inquirer.net obtained the results of the Lakas-CMD-sponsored senatorial poll through the party’s Deputy Secretary General Alde Pagulayan.

In the Tolentino-commissioned survey, it was Villar who ranked 1st in the list with 53 percent of voter preference, while Poe was at the 2nd spot along with Cayetano garnering 43 percent each.

Pimentel and Lapid, meanwhile, shared the 4th and 5th slots with 33 percent each.

At 6th spot was Estrada (31 percent) who was closely followed by Roxas (30 percent).