Chapter 10
Historical Perspective: Opinion polling has not always enjoyed the scientific credibility and predictive success it has experienced over the last few decades. At least twice in presidential races, the predictions were spectacularly wrong. Review the following links to more about the 1936 and 1948 elections, and how modern polling has benefitted from their mistakes.
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5168/
http://www.scribd.com/doc/259298/Why-the-1936-Literary-Digest-Poll-Failed
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/presidents_and_first_ladies/29216
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-chicagodays-deweydefeats-story,0,6484067.story
http://www.csudh.edu/dearhabermas/sampling01.htm
http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1199.htm
http://www.kennesaw.edu/pols/3380/pres/1948.html