CBS
News Takes High-Accuracy Approach to Capturing Effects of U.S.
Presidential, Vice Presidential Debates on Viewers' Attitudes, Voting
Plans
Knowledge Networks has
measured public reaction to presidential debates for CBS News since
2000; will utilize only online panel that accurately represents U.S.
population
NEW YORK, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its broad debate
coverage, CBS News will work with Knowledge Networks to provide an
accurate, nationwide assessment of the reaction of uncommitted voters
to the U.S. presidential debates between Barack Obama and John McCain,
as well as the Vice Presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah
Palin. The debates -- the first of which will take place tonight -- are
being seen as key events in the campaign, because they may influence
the views of crucial undecided voters.
This marks the third consecutive presidential election in which CBS
News has called on Knowledge Networks (KN) to measure the effects of
presidential debates on viewers; KN has also measured reaction to State
of the Union speeches for CBS News. In each case, KN has asked members
of KnowledgePanel(R) -- the only online panel derived from a
statistically valid sample of the full U.S. population -- for their
views both before and after the event. The survey results will show the
extent to which viewing the debates has impacted voters' attitudes. In
previous years, CBS News has frequently featured KN findings in its
post-debate analyses and coverage.
"In an effort to understand how these debates may shape the election,
we're able to combine the speed of the Internet and the accuracy of
true statistical research," said Kathleen Frankovic, Director of
Surveys for CBS News. "We are looking forward to the insights on voters
nationwide that KN and its panel members will provide."
The Knowledge Networks studies will provide feedback on a variety of
important questions around the debates and the election generally,
including
-- degrees of support for the two candidates before and after watching
the debates
-- issues viewed as most important in the campaign
-- feeling that one or both of the candidates is prepared for the job
Unlike volunteer online access panels, which anyone can join,
KnowledgePanel(R) is representative of the U.S. population because
participants are chosen through statistically valid sampling.
Non-Internet consumers can participate in KnowledgePanel(R) by being
provided with a personal computer or an MSN-TV unit, as well as free
connectivity. The result is research that includes the roughly 30% of
the U.S. population that is not Internet-enabled -- a percentage that
has remained stable for several years.
About CBS News
The CBS News Division operates a worldwide news organization serving
the CBS Television and Radio Networks and CBSNews.com with regularly
scheduled news and public affairs programming -- including, among
others, the CBS EVENING NEWS, THE EARLY SHOW, 60 MINUTES, 48 HOURS
MYSTERY, FACE THE NATION and SUNDAY MORNING -- and special reports on
breaking news. The division maintains 18 news bureaus and offices in
the United States and abroad in addition to its world headquarters in
New York.
About Knowledge Networks
Knowledge Networks specializes in solving complex, high-impact
problems, providing extraordinary quality and service to leaders in
business, government and academia. We work closely with clients to
create healthy consumer-brand connections, effective marketing and
advertising, sound public policies, and accurate social science
research. We have established respected practices in media, marketing,
advertising, and government & academic studies. KN excels in study
design, analytics, and custom panel creation; we deliver affordable,
statistically valid online research through KnowledgePanel(R) -- the
only available probability
selected, nationally representative Internet panel.