New York Poll Says 'No Thanks' to Ultimate Fighting
by Zak Woods on Jan 29, 2010 5:45 PM EST
3 comments
According to a new Marist Poll 68% of New Yorkers are opposed to Governor Patterson's initiative to legalize 'ultimate fighting'.
Unfortunately, no one told the Marist Poll that mixed martial arts, not 'ultimate fighting' is up for legalization in the Empire State. Those silly academic institutions, we can't expect them to get everything right.
For the moment let's placate the Marist poll. Without getting to deep into proper polling methodology let's simply quote the question the Marist poll asked to their 838 respondents.
Ultimate fighting, which is legal in many states, takes place in steel cages and allows punching, kicking, and choke holds. Matches end with knockouts, submission by a fighter, or a referee or doctor's orders. Supporters say legalizing it in New York would result in millions of dollars for the state. Do you agree or disagree with legalizing ultimate fighting in New York State?
Wow, just wow. Besides calling MMA 'ultimate fighting' the poll question fails to adequately describe the sport of MMA instead leaning on more violent descriptions. Make no mistake, MMA is violent, but by choosing to describe it closer to Fight Club rather than the legal system in pace for boxing is a failure.
Update: More from SB Nation
Luke Thomas, Editor-In-Chief of Bloody Elbow, has a background in political polling and offered SB Nation his thoughts into the shortcomings of the poll question.
"We call this front loading. They juxtapose technically correct yet misleading or incomplete information with vice profiteering. Where are the questions about what registered voters know about ultimate fighting? The polled individuals are being told to evaluate the universe of ultimate fighting as it is being portrayed in the question. It's seriously shoddy work and Marist should be embarrassed."
Basically, the pollsters set up an image of a brutal clash of fists, feet and choking without making it clear that there are safety measures in place. They describe a dangerous situation without providing any injury data or outlining safety precautions that are in place.
Recently, political steam has been gathering for MMA legislation in New York. While the Marist Poll will certainly give some fodder to MMA detractors, like Bob Reily --who is trying to pass a compromise that wouldn't use the Unified Rules-- Governor Patterson of New York came out in favor of legalizing MMA, and even backed it it in his official budget proposal. New York's Secretary of State also penned an Op-Ed for the New York Times supporting MMA legislation.
Hopefully, this farce of a poll won't sway legislators who are on the fence.
Update #2: The New York Daily News has an unscientific poll on their website and 85% of respondents want MMA to be legal in New York.
More information after the jump.
Marist Poll's methodology:
Nature of the Sample: 838 New York State Registered Voters
This survey of 838 New York State registered voters was conducted on January 25th through January 27th, 2010. Registered voters were interviewed by telephone in proportion to the voter registration in each county in New York and adjusted for turnout in statewide elections. Telephone numbers were selected based upon a list of telephone exchanges from throughout the state. The exchanges were selected to ensure that each region was represented in proportion to its population. In an effort to increase coverage, this land-line sample was supplemented by respondents reached through random dialing of cell phone numbers. The two samples were then combined. Results are statistically significant at ±3.5%. The error margin increases for cross-tabulations.
Marist Poll's Results
| Registered Voters | ||||
| Ultimate fighting, which is legal in many states, takes place in steel cages and allows punching, kicking, and choke holds. Matches end with knockouts, submission by a fighter, or a referee or doctor's orders. Supporters say legalizing it in New York would result in millions of dollars for the state. Do you agree or disagree with legalizing ultimate fighting in New York State? | ||||
| Agree | Disagree | Unsure | ||
| Row % | Row % | Row % | ||
| Registered Voters | 29% | 68% | 3% | |
| Party Registration | Democrat | 21% | 76% | 3% |
| Republican | 32% | 65% | 3% | |
| Non-enrolled | 34% | 63% | 2% | |
| Political Ideology | Liberal | 25% | 71% | 4% |
| Moderate | 33% | 64% | 2% | |
| Conservative | 27% | 70% | 3% | |
| Region | New York City | 22% | 74% | 4% |
| Suburbs | 30% | 66% | 4% | |
| Upstate | 32% | 66% | 2% | |
| Income | Less $50,000 | 26% | 70% | 4% |
| $50,000-$99,999 | 27% | 70% | 4% | |
| $100,000 or more | 34% | 64% | 2% | |
| Income | Less than $50,000 | 26% | 70% | 4% |
| $50,000 or more | 30% | 67% | 3% | |
| Race | White | 29% | 68% | 3% |
| Non White | 26% | 71% | 3% | |
| Age | 18 to 29 | 50% | 50% | 0% |
| 30 to 44 | 43% | 54% | 3% | |
| 45 to 59 | 25% | 73% | 2% | |
| 60 or older | 13% | 82% | 5% | |
| Age | Under 45 | 45% | 53% | 2% |
| 45 or older | 19% | 77% | 4% | |
| Gender | Men | 43% | 55% | 3% |
| Women | 15% | 82% | 4% | |
| January 2010 Marist Poll New York Registered Voters "N=838 MOE +/- 3.5%". Totals may not add to 100 due to rounding. | ||||
0 recs |
3 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
It’s been a long time since my college stats course, but I’m pretty sure that 838 people out of a total population of nearly 20 million would not be considered a statistically valid sample size.
That, plus the fact that the poll question was biased to begin with, equals invalid survey.
There may be 20 million people in the state, but how many are actually registered voters, and how many are active voters. The numbers will probably be a fraction of that 20 mil. This past mayoral election, less than a 1 million went out to vote in NYC out of more than 8 mil.
Also, samples as “small” as that is the norm and are used to nation wide, prime example would be the the approval ratings of the president. Sample size may be a few thousand out more than 300 mil. Aside from the “ultimate fighting” name, the rest is true however, MMA appears to still have the old stigma among New Yorkers, but particularly in NYC. NYC is the place that really counts.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
Related FanPosts on Watch Kalib Run
Related FanShots on Watch Kalib Run
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
