After choosing a representative national sample of more than 700 people, political scientists conducted what is called a deliberative poll. They created a group of well-informed voters by giving them home computers and exposing them to the candidates' commercials and policy positions. These voters, using microphones with the computers, discussed the candidates and the issues in small groups that met online once a week, starting in January on the day of the Iowa caucuses.
—John Tierney, "Edwards Wins: A Theory Tested," The New York Times, May 2, 2004

Pittsburgh was one of 10 communities across the country that took part yesterday in an experiment in "deliberative polling," an effort to determine how much public opinion changes on issues when voters are provided information about those issues.

Voters in Pittsburgh; Baton Rouge, La.; Green Bay, Wis.; Minneapolis; Sarasota Fla.; Rochester N.Y.; Seattle; Kansas City; San Diego; and Kearney, Neb. were asked their opinions on questions pertaining to national security and international trade policy before spending a day discussing these issues in a small group and asking questions of an expert panel. They were then polled again.

Respondents nationwide were less likely to support the war in Iraq and less likely to support free trade at the end of the deliberations.

At the beginning of the deliberative poll, 43 percent agreed that "the war in Iraq has gotten in the way of the war on terror," while 51 percent disagreed. In the final poll, 55 percent agreed and only 33 percent disagreed.
—Jack Kelly, "Information changes minds," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania), January 25, 2004

The PBS National Issues Convention is the first national attempt to create a "deliberative opinion poll", a concept originally advanced in 1988 by James Fishkin, professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin.

"A deliberative opinion poll models what people would think if they had adequate information on the issues and the candidates," explained Fishkin. Corning at the start of the presidential selection season, "a deliberative opinion poll based on face-to-face interaction with the candidates offers a dramatic alternative to shrinking sound bites and voter inattention," Fishkin said.
—"Austin, Texas Chosen As 'New Launching Pad' For 1992 Presidential Election," PR Newswire, July 11, 1991