Saturday Morning Physics: Do People Believe That? The Science Behind Survey Research

This is an introductory course on polling led by Yanna Krupnikov, a political scientist at New York University, centered on the question of why surveys can accurately capture public opinion. Starting from the basic principles of polling, the course dives deep into common pitfalls—such as the sensitivity of respondents' wording, order bias in questions, and social desirability effects—revealing the complexity hidden behind seemingly simple yes-or-no answers. The highlight: one class that helps you understand why polls go wrong, why rephrasing the same question can produce dramatically different results, and how researchers design questionnaires to get as close as possible to genuine public sentiment. The lecture balances academic rigor with engaging storytelling, enriched by numerous real-world examples. Suitable for college students and general readers interested in political science and social research methods; also ideal for everyday viewers who follow poll data in the news and want to understand the mechanics behind it. Before watching, consider this: Have you ever found yourself puzzled by poll results reported in the media? Watching with such questions in mind will deepen your takeaways.