Prank Responses Skew Extremism Polls

Opt‑in and lightly screened surveys can be flooded with unserious or trolling answers that inflate shocking findings (e.g., claiming nuclear‑submarine licenses or absurd traits). When these instruments then ask about 'support for political violence,' they can create a false picture of mass extremism. Media and policymakers should demand validation checks and probability samples before treating such results as real attitudes. — It warns that mismeasured public opinion can warp narratives and policy about democratic stability and violence risk.

Sources

Methodology

Jcoleman 2025.12.03 60% relevant

Both pieces are about the limits and potential biases of non‑probability research instruments: Pew’s recruitment and screening rules for these focused groups (who follows news, device/age rules, partisan composition) are the kind of methodological transparency that mitigates problems documented in the 'Prank Responses' idea, which warns about measurement error in opt‑in surveys.

Let's Not Overstate Support For Violence

Cremieux 2025.10.11 100% relevant

The post cites Pew’s finding that 1–12% of respondents ‘reported’ holding nuclear‑sub licenses and teens’ multi‑item absurd self‑reports, then applies the lesson to political‑violence polling.