"...the two versions of the survey show that if you ask a question elliptically, you get a different answer than ask it directly." (99)
Asking questions is tricky. Based on my experience sometimes I find it difficult to tell when to ask bluntly or 'circuituously.' Sometimes when I ask questions bluntly, I feel that people are taken aback by my directness. They may think that I'm rude or they may end up being confuse. Then I start adding modifications to clarify the question and right away they suspect me of ulterior motives or they'll look more confused. It's just difficult.
(108) "You need to know what the question is before you can interpret its answer."
This statement summarized everything about asking questions.
Ch 7: Risks
(116) "...stories seldom offer 'precise information about risks'...Drama, of course, is most compelling when there are heroes and villain...'risks tend to be perceived as more serious when there is someone to blame.'"
this page was interesting and I'd just like to note how drama can either add to the content or sentionalize the story. I think this is where journalists' creativity comes out.
Ch. 8 Reports versus Reality
(134) "Statistical information is inevitably one level removed from reality."
I agree with this, especially since questions asked to make the statistics are often not presented to readers. A gap is created. The questions, which acts as a bridge between reports and reality, are not accounted for.
Subjective self-reports versus objective reality
Ch. 9
Chapter 9 raises an important question: "Do researchers' motives- financial or ideological- invalidate or at least call into question their findings?" (148)
This question calls us, the news consumers, to have a healthy skepticism about researchers and their claims. I would imagine that researchers will be honest because if they weren't all their hard work would be futile. I would think that they would double-check their data before calling to their attention because their reputation and credibility could be ruined. A lot is at 'risk' and I think these researchers would consider those risks.
Motives are always considered. Just like the polls and the statistics, questions asked should be considered in order to understand the context (criteria for criticism). In the case of researchers, their methodoloy will show if their data are genuine or with motives.
Posted by Michael Diezmos at November 2, 2005 7:13 AM