Talk:United States Presidential approval rating/FAQ

Q:Why is Obama's approval listed as XX, when it clearly is XX elsewhere?

A:Because we're using Gallup numbers for most every section for uniformity's sake.

Q:Why is FDR's term average left incomplete?

A:Short answer: Nobody knows what his term average truly is. Long answer: An average is computed based on not two points -- but all of the daily data points from his entire presidency, which are mostly unavailable. If the first 11 years everyone hated him but they loved him in the last 3 (when the numbers were starting to be counted), his average would be greatly skewed.

Q:If that's so, and you need a whole term to calculate an average, then why is there one for Obama?

A:The same reason there's one for Kennedy. Obama's entire term, to date, is as long as it's been. Being temporal beings, we live in the present, and can safely say that Obama's entire term to date is his entire term thus far. If he would resign or leave office, then the averages on the page would continue to be accurate. Otherwise, it will be updated tomorrow when the present arrives again.

Q:Who are you and why did you put a FAQ on this page and how can I add to it?

A:First, I'm just an editor like yourself. Second, I put a FAQ page on this page because many people were getting confused. And as for how to edit it, well, you see that little edit button up there in the left? Have at it.

The NBC/WSJ poll referenced is from May, not June. here is the correct link: http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/TODAY/z_Creative/17255%20NBCWSJJunePoll.pdf. Also for the Ipsos Reuters polls, please use the PDFs from RCP or HuffPost as they are permanent. ex: http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/CorePoliticalTopline20170621.pdf, https://www.realclearpolitics.com/docs/Core_Political-Topline-2017-06-21.pdf. thanks

The following sections of the article became deprecated when a major revamp of the accompanying article rearranged these former into a single table. It is kept to give a brief understanding of statistics, the lack of which has previously given this article some trouble.

Q:Why is FDR not listed under the Highest Minimum section, but he is listed in the Highest Approval section?

A:Imagine you're late for a race. You're there to watch Number 13, who is in 5th place when you arrive. As you watch, Number 13 moves up to 1st place for one lap, then falls back to 3rd to finish. What was the lowest position Number 13 held? You don't know. Worse, if you assume that 5th place was the worst position he held, you're automatically eliminating some other racers from the category of "Lowest Position Was In the Top 5." You can't do that, it's not fair to the other racers. But, on the other hand, you can award Number 13 points for being among the "Race Leaders," because you know that he did in fact lead the race for one lap. Maybe more, but you can at least give him credit for being among the race leaders.

Q:Why is nobody listed for 2nd/3rd/4th place under one of the Highest/Lowest sections?

A:Let's assume a race with 5 entrants. The first two entrants to finish came in exactly tied. So did the next two. The last guy came in alone. To make it simple, who finished 5th? In a 5-person race, the last place person finished 5th. Who finished first? Both of the first two racers finished 1st, because they were tied. Who finished 2nd? Ooh, I know -- it was both of the second two racers? Right? Wrong. Actually, the 1st two racers are claiming both 1st and 2nd, but they get called 1st place. 2nd, truly, is one of them, but we don't bother to delve into who exactly was one lepton ahead of who. So, the 2nd pair to finish are actually 3rd. So: in this example, we'd have a tie for 1st, a tie for 3rd, a 5th-and-last finisher, and no one listed as 2nd or 4th. Clear as mud? See discussion below.