Statistically, a representative sampling can predict a full population…mathematically speaking it is true…but that is if there is no bias introduced into the equation. I know the +/- allowed for error should account for that in a “real and unbiased” survey, but do those exist today?
We all read survey and poll results or are subjected to their results with choices that businesses make for us – what to sell, what we want, what to advertise to us, who we should vote for.
I found myself wondering where they find people who participate, how do they get results. I can’t remember being personally approached lately, or ever.
In a fit of cold weather boredom, and a hunger to learn something new, I went on a mission to learn more.
Full disclaimer:
I did not approach this completely scientifically, I did not keep accurate and detailed data, there is no paper trail, this is not my field of expertise though I spent years in college and in a corporate society where I learned a lot. I am not a statistician even though I can do the math if held at gunpoint, and it would have to be a big gun to make me want to for sure. I hate this kind of work.
What I did was pure curiosity. While that will kill the cat, it only bored me to tears while opening up my eyes a bit.
Now. How did I go about this.
- I signed up on a survey site that offered to pay me to take surveys.
- I took every survey or poll that came from this site (or tried).
- I took every poll that found its way to my inbox, across social media, or from a text.
PAID FOR SURVEYS
I figured I could easily do it while watching football or the news; so, I said what the hell.
I was really quite skeptical about the whole thing. The survey site asked for a lot of data to acquire the demographic I represented. Then it supposedly would match me to surveys to fit that initial grouping.
The first thing that quickly got my attention was for every survey I was allowed to participate in, there were four where I was booted out after some initial questions. I understand a first pass; you don’t want to send an old retired dude a survey about baby food or about some habits on an island in Greece…so I get that…but then I did get asked about baby food so I was confused.
Then came questions where you could feel being “herded” into a chute, and if you bucked at all, the survey was immediately over. Sometimes this was five or more minutes into a survey – which paid for time, so it wasted a lot of it.
What really peaked my attention, why I decided to write today, was when they were more political in nature and I would not give the “approved” replies. I mean if you are looking to get the voice of the customer for bread, chips, or what shampoo people use that is one thing. When you are asking for results that may influence political elections, an entire nation’s feelings about our current state; I was offended to learn that “bucking in the chute” left me at the end of my opinion. This isn’t just buying mustard for a sandwich, these results have real consequences.
How many of the results reported about the mood of America, the emotions toward politicians or parties…how many are predetermined by a bias?
Just for Info Note Here:
I am not going to disclose the survey site. It really did pay (deposits to PayPal) and I may go back just to earn some fishing tournament cash, so I am not going to risk offending them. To be fair, I will let you know that I made $81.68 from 223 (attempted) surveys that took (guesstimate) 10 minutes per (averaged). So that results in a whopping (drumroll); approximate hourly rate of $2.20.
RANDOM ONLINE OR TEXT POLLS
You all must get them too? Mostly they are an attempt to get a donation to one political party or the other, or to just provoke conversation on social media; but some “seem” more real. I even stopped to answer some questions at a local post office about the “no labels party” – is that even legal to be there – and felt sure they did not like the response.
Anyway, outside of the questions used by social media for hits, likes or such, there are polls we ae subjected to that will take you to a point where you are asked to donate. If you do not, the survey is over. By his point, you have given truthful responses that do not meet the narrative and are ushered to the door.
This is extremely disturbing to me as a free American subjected to result after result of polls from questionable sources on the internet and news. How many times do we see this person, this condition, these groups “feel” or “do not feel” based on the most biased approach to data collection? How many decisions are swayed or formed based on bullshit that was formulated in a box prepared to collect only that? How many podcasts are just making it up, or using these skewed piles of data?
I would say here that I am not trying to prove any point by writing today. I am just relaying an observation (one guy’s opinion) about the flaws in today’s information flow. Just like I am writing this; anyone can write anything, can post any irrelevant data. We can all create bogus data to support our narrative or agenda. I can create a poll or survey that will channel others to a desired outcome in order to prove my point.
The internet is filled with bullshit like this (including my writing). Some is even collected using people whose intention is giving an accurate account of the moment in time. There are free speech absolutists that argue this is ok. Say whatever I want! They will never agree it is time to say “enough! – let’s stop ruining lives and families with lies”.
It has become our responsibility to either stay away from it all, or to look past the surface while ignoring the histrionic theatre that permeates social media and politics today. To dig deeper, to be more educated and not accept that there are lizard people sending us foreign money if we give our bank accounts, and not everyone has the intention of ruining this country no matter which side of the baby food/mustard/political spectrum we live on.
Maybe it will be warmer tomorrow and I can go fishing.
I should take a poll to see what everyone thinks?
Topwater Moon 