Dictionary definition of “dipstick survey”

dipstick survey

n. a poll that asks open-ended questions to solicit opinions or information, especially on a single issue; an informal or unscientific poll. Also dipstick poll. Subjects: English

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Citations: [1973 Los Angeles Times (July 11) “Living Cost Council Opens Nationwide Oil Industry Probe” (in Washington, D.C.) p. 11: He said agents will even check the amount of gasoline in some fuel storage tanks. “We call it the dipstick survey,” he added.] 1982 Mark Meredith Financial Times (London, England) (Mar. 11) “Aberdeen’s NorthSound moves up the charts” p. 16: The “dipstick” survey by the consultants also showed 93 per cent “awareness” of the new station among its potential listening audience. 1989 Broadcast (Mar. 31) “LBC (Crown) Takes Issue With BBC Demand Claim” p. 11: GLR said that four months after it launched the new service in the capital, a dipstick survey showed it had an average daily audience of 170,000 people. 1993 Adam Pertman Boston Globe (Mar. 20) “And now, here’s Ross—again Perot to kick off new TV spots, and the topic is US woes” p. 3: Afterward, he said, he will ask viewers to call a 900 number in a “crude dipstick” poll to determine whether Americans want political reform or not. 2005 The Hindu (India) (May 17) “Survey to cover children left out of polio immunisation from today” p. 3: The authorities have made preparations for a door-to-door survey on May 16 and 17 to cover children left out of the Sunday exercise, and also a “dipstick” survey for four days from May 20. The dipstick survey involves random inspection of houses in both urban and rural areas by the public health staff, that would complete the polio immunisation process in this round, 2005 Edison Thomas @ Bangalore Times of India (Sept. 15) “What’s our lingo?”: In a dipstick survey conducted by BT, English came out tops with 80 per cent non-English speakers listening to English and 20 per cent non-Hindi speakers listening to Hindi.

Posted 28 Sep 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend