This book presents hands-on information on how to plan, administer, and analyze opinion polls. Guidance is also offered on how to make this strategy accessible to public interest groups. Several examples, checklists, warnings of possible pitfalls, and lists of material and human resources occur throughout the chapters. Major sections address the topics of: (1) types of surveys; (2) questionnaire wording and construction; (3) interviewing; (4) preparing for and managing interviews; (5) sampling; (6) processing data; (7) analysis; and (8) shortcuts and pitfalls. An annotated bibliography is included. Appendices contain sample forms, techniques, and grids. Information on the software package POLLSTART is provided as well as a glossary of terms and a case study. (ML)