An eigenpoll is a type of statistical survey

Statistical survey

Survey methodology is the field that studies surveys, that is, the sample of individuals from a population with a view towards making statistical inferences about the population using the sample. Polls about public opinion, such as political beliefs, are reported in the news media in democracies....

 which gathers knowledge from the community. It differs from opinion poll

Opinion poll

An opinion poll, sometimes simply referred to as a poll is a survey of public opinion from a particular sample. Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions of a population by conducting a series of questions and then extrapolating generalities in ratio or within confidence...

s by finding the best solution, rather than finding the most popular opinion.

Methodology

The idea behind the eigenpoll is to let voters compare and rank options. If the option is not present, respondents may add their own. Through a series of selections, a score and rank is computed. These results are continually updated as the polling progresses.

Potential for inaccuracy

The results may be affected by response bias

Response bias

Response bias is a type of cognitive bias which can affect the results of a statistical survey if respondents answer questions in the way they think the questioner wants them to answer rather than according to their true beliefs...

, where the answers given may not truly reflect the opinion or beliefs of respondents.

See also

• Opinion poll
  Opinion poll
  An opinion poll, sometimes simply referred to as a poll is a survey of public opinion from a particular sample. Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions of a population by conducting a series of questions and then extrapolating generalities in ratio or within confidence...
  
  
• Voodoo poll
  Voodoo poll
  An open access poll is a type of opinion poll in which participants are self-selected. The term includes call-in, mail-in, and some online polls....
  
  
• Straw poll
  Straw poll
  A straw poll or straw vote is a vote with nonbinding results. Straw polls provide dialogue among movements within large groups, reflecting trends like organization and motivation...
  
  
• Deliberative opinion poll
  Deliberative opinion poll
  The deliberative opinion poll is a form of opinion poll that incorporates the principles of deliberative democracy and sortition.The concept was described by James S. Fishkin in his 1991 book "Democracy and Deliberation". Dr...
  
  
• Eigenspace