I really despise political polls because they serve no purpose. I only consider lying to them because they are so destructive (IMO).
Despite my hatred of such polls, however, I do know that the science behind a great many well-thought-out, well-based polls and studies can be used for great good. For example, we have a program called "Social Norms" where the middle school/high school kids were surveyed over several years (and in an on-going process) regarding their views/attitudes/habits regarding drugs, sex, parents, etc. This data, then, is used to show that the average student does make good decisions and has good information. It's used as a sort of "positive" peer pressure -- where the program is trying to provide the students with enough information to be secure they not "everyone" or even "most kids" are engaging in negative behaviors.
My fear is that my lying and undermining the credibility of well-publicized, overly-hyped polls will undermine the credit of the good, well-crafted use of polls.
So, as much as I really think it would serve them right to be wrong... I usually just decline.
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Date: 2008-10-29 02:35 am (UTC)From:Despite my hatred of such polls, however, I do know that the science behind a great many well-thought-out, well-based polls and studies can be used for great good. For example, we have a program called "Social Norms" where the middle school/high school kids were surveyed over several years (and in an on-going process) regarding their views/attitudes/habits regarding drugs, sex, parents, etc. This data, then, is used to show that the average student does make good decisions and has good information. It's used as a sort of "positive" peer pressure -- where the program is trying to provide the students with enough information to be secure they not "everyone" or even "most kids" are engaging in negative behaviors.
My fear is that my lying and undermining the credibility of well-publicized, overly-hyped polls will undermine the credit of the good, well-crafted use of polls.
So, as much as I really think it would serve them right to be wrong... I usually just decline.
And I ADORE your Sarah Jane.