USE OF ROLLS AND SURVEYS IN THE DDI AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01083A000100180004-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 5, 2012
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: December 6, 1957
• Content Type: MF

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/04/05: CIA-RDP80B01083A000100180004-2
6 December 1,957
APAUM FCC: Deputy Director (Intelligence)
`t1BJCT : Use of Polls and Surveys in the DDI Area
1. You asked me to determine the extent to which polls
and surveys are used in the DDI Area. The following points
are the msjor conclusions of this surveys
a. All polls and surveys are routed by at least
one Office.
b. USI;, polls are preferred to others but the
feeling of preference does not appear to be particularly
strong.
c. All polls on elections appear to have been
accurate within acceptable margins of error.
d. Some polls have been extremely accurate
and others have furnished unique information.
e. Polls seldom, if over, form the primary
source for an intelligence report. They are generally
used as background, to stimulate or confirm speculation,
or as part of an original mass of material on the given
problem.
f. Polls are used almost entirely for information
concerning current attitudes rather than for long term
trends since it is believed that there are riany factors
which can affect public opinion very quickly, and which are
most likely to be known from general analysis than from
the polls themselves.
g. It would be useful to have more polls and
surveys than are presently available.
h. ONE, OCI and OCR all indicated that it was
necessary to exercise so^.e caution in using the results
of some polls and surveys, and that while the results
frequently were useful because they gave measurable data,
it was necessary to interpret the significance in the light
of other information.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/04/05: CIA-RDP80B01083A000100180004-2
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/04/05: CIA-RDP80B01083A000100180004-2
2. Use of rolls and Surveys:
3. There are attached copies of statements on this subject from
each Office, if you should care to read any of their views
in greater detail.
W. A. TID67ELL
Assistant to IUD/I (Planning)
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/04/05: CIA-RDP80B01083A000100180004-2