A symposium was held on June 23, 2018, entitled “What is Public Opinion

Survey　　Discussion on the Reliability of Public Opinion at a Crossroads” at

the Spring Research Presentation of the Japan Society for Studies in Journalism

and Mass Communication.

　　In public opinion polls, it is natural that reliability and validity are required

together with its immediacy. However, although the trial and error is being carried

out at each research institution about the methodology of such cellular

phone RDD （Random Digit Dialing） survey, researchers and practitioners of

related positions will meet together to discuss its reliability and validity. Therefore,

it is the purpose of this symposium to overview the present situation of

public opinion surveys, to discuss its reliability and consider its validity, and to

confirm the concept of “public opinion survey in the present age” at the same

time.

　　Discussions were held at this symposium by three public opinion survey

practitioners and two researchers. The point of discussion is the current state

of public opinion survey in the mass media; in particular the basic concepts of

RDD fixed telephone survey and the problems of RDD phone survey to landlines

and mobile phones. The issues were then collated. In addition, there was a

report on conditions for the creation of alternative methods and investigation

methods conforming to the conditions for post-RDD fixed telephone surveys.

　　In response to these reports, important points were identified, stating that

it is necessary to clearly distinguish between surveys and polls and to handle

polls appropriately.