How the poll was conducted

The Star Tribune Minnesota Poll findings are based on telephone interviews May 12-15 with a representative sample of 1,203 adults in Minnesota telephone households. Interviews were conducted under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI).

Results of a poll based on 1,203 interviews will vary by no more than 3 percentage points, plus or minus, from the population 95 times out of 100. Margins are larger for groups within the sample, such as Democrats and Republicans.

Sampling error does not take into account other sources of variation inherent in public opinion surveys such as nonresponse, question wording or context effects. In addition, news events may have affected opinion during the period the poll was taken.

Readers can e-mail questions to mnpoll@startribune.com.