Question

To assess survey/polling questions for strength (if it is good/reliable), apply 1 check:

CHECK: Is the sampling method free from distorting psychological influences, are there reasons to doubt respondents’ veracity, is the question somehow distorted or leading in ways it should not be?

Question: An online survey open to the country, came back with this result from over 10,000 respondents: 60% of Americans oppose the militarization of local police. So 60% of Americans opposed our police becoming militarized.

Answer 1

Yes, the method is almost free from distorting psychological influences, as in the online survey there is a very little chance of any person changing the psychological nature of the person, as otherwise could have been done in an interview survey.

Yes, the respondents veracity can be doubted, because some might not be willing to get the local police militarized for their own safety for any wrong acts they might have done, or are planning to do, so if 15% are such people, then the results would have been otherwise if they have answered it rightfully.

It might lead of non militarization of the local police for the benefit of the criminals, who took the survey as well, as they would be the ones who would have been most active in the survey, and actually against it.