Yep.
One survey sample...*snip* non-analogous sample
I'll repeat:
We know from multiple sources (e.g., PEW) that Independents are essentially split down the middle--right-leaning and left-leaning--and almost always vote accordingly. So in a loose, ballpark estimation, you can most certainly add the right-leaning portion to the Republican portion to give a ballpark on how the right-leaning population thinks.
Since we ALSO know that the total US voting bloc is made up almost equally of Republicans, Democrats and Independents--and we know that Independents are essentially split down the middle right and left-leaning and that they vote accordingly--the Independent percentages can be applied to Republicans and Democrats accordingly.
So, to make your sample survey analogous it would read:
One survey sample showed 12 out of a total of 100 right-leaning people said that 1 plus 1 makes 3, and another sample showed 33 different people out of the same group of 100 right-leaning people said that 1 plus 1 makes 3, so the total number of right-leaning people who said 1 plus 1 makes 3 would be 45.
IOW, in a loose, ballpark estimation, you can most certainly add the right-leaning Independent portion to the Republican portion to give a ballpark on how the total right-leaning population thinks.
So the respondents are specifically being asked a question based on their existing knowledge of the situation that includes affirmation language (the officer responsible for his death), not just some question in a vacuum that they know nothing about. Which, again, in a ballpark estimation, would argue that anyone choosing "don't know" is at least tacitly affirming that he should not be arrested. It certainly isn't affirming (tacitly or otherwise) that he should be arrested.
No, the ones who said "don't know" could simply not know enough about it.
I'll repeat. The respondents are specifically being asked a question based on their existing knowledge (from what they have read, seen or heard), whether or not the officer responsible for Floyd's death should be arrested.
Once again, THIS was the question:
Based on what you have read, seen, or heard about the death of George Floyd in a police-involved incident, do you think the officer responsible for his death should or should not be arrested?
Do you think the officer responsible for his death should or should not be arrested? Iow:
He's responsible for his death, so he should be arrested.
He's responsible for his death, but he shouldn't be arrested.
He's responsible for his death, but I don't know if he should be arrested.
For that third response, in spite of the fact that you're agreeing that he's responsible for his death, you must think he did nothing wrong for him not to
also be arrested for that responsible act.
So, once again,
in a ballpark estimation of what people are thinking, where, as T.G.G. put it, 40% don't think Chauvin did anything wrong, that is sufficient, especially when you give it the haircut I gave it.