Background Memo  

The most recent survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind was conducted by telephone from Oct. 23 through Oct. 29, 2008 using a randomly selected sample of 852 likely voters statewide.  The sampling error for 852 randomly selected respondents is +/- 3.5 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence.  Sample error for subgroups varies with the size of the subgroup. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling error. This kind of error, which cannot be measured, arises from a number of factors including, but not limited to, non-response (eligible individuals refusing to be interviewed), question wording, the order in which questions are asked, and variations among interviewers. All PublicMind interviews are conducted by professionally trained interviewers using a CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) system. Random selection is achieved through computerized random-digit dialing. This technique gives every person with a land-line phone number (including those with unlisted numbers) an equal chance of being selected. Results are mathematically weighted to match known demographics.

The questions included in this release are as follows:

Question: Now, turning to New Jersey… In your opinion, do you think things in New Jersey are moving in the right direction or do you think the state has gotten off on the wrong track?

Ask at random one of the following two questions:

Question: On November 4th you’ll also be asked to approve or disapprove of an amendment to the state constitution to require all state agencies to get voter approval for any money they borrow through issuing bonds.  Do you think you’ll approve or disapprove of that proposed amendment? If “don’t know” ask “do you think you’ll skip this question?”

Question: On November 4th you’ll also be asked to approve or disapprove of an amendment to the state constitution.  Do you think you’ll approve or disapprove of the question that reads…“This amendment to the State Constitution will require voter approval of new laws that allow the State to borrow money by issuing bonds through any State agency or independent authority backed by a pledge of an annual appropriation to pay the principal and interest on the bonds.” [INTERVIEWER: STOP WHEN RESPONDENT ANSWERS OR OBJECTS] 

Question: How would you rate the job Jon Corzine is doing as governor…  [READ]?

Question: Do you approve or disapprove of the job Jon Corzine is doing as governor?

 

see also:
Survey Analysis
Tabular Results

Copyright © 2008, Fairleigh Dickinson University. All rights reserved. FDU PublicMind Poll [Latest update 081103]