Faculty members of the School of Statistics of the University of the Philippines released a statement this week, calling out the pervasive abuse of survey methodologies by some entities engaged in their own brand of research. Worse, these entities promote their results on social media.
“We are dismayed by their cavalier disregard for the principles of data gathering,” the professors said, pointing to some vloggers, PR companies, private individuals and even some media organizations who publish the results of their surveys even if these were done with unclear methodologies.
The statisticians called on the public to be critical of surveys and to not accept the results as they are. Consider, they said, the appropriateness of the sample size based on, but not limited to, a target margin of error, level of confidence, and nature of the target population.
Some suggestions from the experts: “How was the sample selected? Which sectors of the population, if any, are being represented? What events surround the period of data gathering? When facing an interviewer, was the respondent interviewed in a neutral yet professional tone? What are the control mechanisms implemented to ensure accuracy of the protocols in data collection?” These, they say, are marks of surveys with proper implementation and control.
Unfortunately, these particulars are lost on many Filipinos who, by sheer laziness, refusal to listen to contrary opinion, or plain lack of capability, tend to accept survey results uncritically and allow themselves to be conditioned by them.
Tragically, as well, we are speaking to the same sets of people who believe that YouTube and TikTok are more credible sources of information than court decisions, news reports produced by journalists steeped in the rigors of verification, or academic papers that are based on scientific, historical – by no means mere anecdotal – data.
These, too, are the same group of people who resort to attacks and name calling once they are given suggestions on how to be more circumspect and critical of the information they receive and pass on.
It is easy to feel defeated knowing that this low regard for rigor in thinking and decision making will decide the fate of our nation come Election Day. Still, we persevere – one survey, one fact nugget, one truth-resistant compatriot at a time. In the long run, perhaps the best places to begin a mindset of verification and rigor are homes and primary schools, where children are taught not to accept or believe anything they hear or read at face value.
This is a truly daunting task ahead of us.
