Prerequisite: GVPT201. Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program.

Can a poll really predict an election? What if surveys are actually shaping opinions instead of measuring them? Public opinion drives politics, but how much of it is real? From election polling to media surveys to viral TikTok polls, we are constantly told what Americans think. This course pulls back the curtain on survey research, revealing the science, manipulation, and ethical dilemmas behind political polling. Students will design and conduct a real-world survey, testing how question wording, framing, and bias shape responses; learn how data can be misused to mislead the public and how to detect it; and explore how survey methods influence fields like marketing, public policy, journalism, and data science. This course isn't just about methods it's about understanding the power of data in shaping political narratives. Whether students are interested in political strategy, analytics, or communication, this course provides essential tools for evaluating and interpreting public opinion.