# Family Feud -- do they really ask 100 random people? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 14, 2018, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-feud-do-they-really-ask-100-random-people/808818 "2018-02-14T07:59:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-feud-do-they-really-ask-100-random-people/808818/1 "2018-02-14T07:59:48Z")
The show airs daily for a conservative estimate of 200 episodes each year. In a regular game there are four competitive questions for the two dueling families and five questions in the Fast Money final. For the 25 years the show’s been on in its current format there were 25 x 200 x 9 x 100 = 4.500.000 questions (supposedly) posed to members of the general public. So … have you been one of them or do you know someone who was surveyed? Were you approached in the streets or by telephone? How many questions do they ask in a batch? Or do they rather lock 100 voluntary subjects in a room for marathon questioning sessions? ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-feud-do-they-really-ask-100-random-people/808818/2 "2018-02-14T09:48:13Z")
I think it’s the audience they survey, maybe on their way in? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-feud-do-they-really-ask-100-random-people/808818/3 "2018-02-14T11:40:02Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > I think it’s the audience they survey, maybe on their way in? Apparently it’s not: [The Research Methodology of ‘Family Feud’](http://www.catalystnyc.com/2013/04/the-research-methodology-of-family-feud/) > [@](#): > > Today, the show employs a polling firm, Applied Research-West, to conduct the surveys by telephone. The company’s operators follows standard survey practices: They use random-digit dialing; try to ensure their sample is representative of the U.S. population, according to Census data; and dial cellphones to reach the growing landline-free population. The surveyers don’t disclose that the questions are for ‘Family Feud.’ A typical phone survey includes 30 or 40 questions, culled from 100 submitted to Ms. Johnston daily by writers and consultants for the show. Topical questions may air as soon as three weeks after the survey responses have been collected and compiled.” ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-feud-do-they-really-ask-100-random-people/808818/4 "2018-02-14T12:01:09Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Apparently it’s not: > > [The Research Methodology of ‘Family Feud’](http://www.catalystnyc.com/2013/04/the-research-methodology-of-family-feud/) Thanks, nice find. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-feud-do-they-really-ask-100-random-people/808818/5 "2018-02-14T15:51:37Z")
On the original ABC version, during the first week of shows, they would display an address (I think it was just “Family Feud Survey” and then the standard Goodson-Todman LA address) to send in a postcard if you wanted to be in the survey. Supposedly, they got so many responses that it was years before they needed to do it again.