Response to Hauser's "Public Judgment"

Response to question: What are some of the advantages vs challenges in using polls and surveys to determine public opinion?

     After reading Hauser's "Public Judgment" I was particularly interested in the question above. As an example for how an issue/problem can be defined as public or private, Hauser begins by discussing how the state of education has become a public problem because of the many people actively involved in discussion of the issue. He continues by discussing those involved; parents, students, teachers, etc. He then goes on to discuss some of the solutions that have been proposed for the problem by different groups. One of the solutions he mentioned was the way that schools are ranked based on standardized test scores. Having taken several standardized tests in my long career as a student I immediately said to myself "That's ridiculous, most students don't really care about those tests or see them as relevant (especially considering they are generally not a part of the final grades)." I went on to read the rest of the article. Then, I came to a section of the article in which Hauser discusses polls to determine public opinion and I (rather oddly) related those polls to the standardized tests that were discussed in the opening of the article. Although there are several differences between polls/surveys and standardized tests, I began to see a similarity in the way in which they are viewed. For instance, a student who does not really care much about the standardized test, isn't aware that the test scores will influence their school/education, and simply wants to get it over with (probably because they have a half day of school and know that as soon are they are finished they will be able to go home) is not going to perform to the best of their ability and will most likely mindlessly fill in the bubbles. On the other hand, a student who is concerned with their education and is aware that the rank that their school receives based on the scores of the students will directly affect them, will probably take the exam more seriously and answer the questions as best they can. This is slightly similar to what Hauser said about polls and surveys.

     Hauser explains that researchers give out polls and surveys in hopes of gaining knowledge of public opinion on issues. The issue with this is oddly similar to the standardized test example. For one, there will be (without a doubt) people filling out the polls and surveys that do not feel that the results will have any affect on them at all, and simply "fill in the bubbles" to get it over with. Hauser explains that while polls and surveys are valuable tools to gauge public opinion, they can not be relied on alone. Hauser brings up a great point that polls and surveys cannot document discourse and he argues "... public opinion without discourse loses the sense of context and reasoning that provides the basis for holding an opinion in the first place..." (94). Hauser also discusses the fact that a poll cannot gather any information regarding whether the person filling out the survey has any knowledge of the issue that the poll is aiming at, or whether or not they even have any interest in it. This lack of information from a poll causes the data collected to be flawed and incomplete. There are several details that need to be taken into account when trying to gauge the opinion of the public on certain issues. The polls and surveys that attempt to gather information of opinion relating to current issues are missing very important details. I agree with Hauser's statement that there is a difference between popular opinion and public opinion and that some opinions (particularly those from people who are actively involved in issues, or seek all information regarding them) have more weight than others.

     On the other hand, I think that polls and surveys can be valuable to an extent. Some people are not comfortable taking about policy, issues, currents events or politics in general. Sometimes, that quiet person in the group who hasn't engaged in discourse or discussion isn't ignorant of the issue, they just simply do not want to engage in the discourse because they are intimidated by the other's opinions and worry that the discussion may become an argument. For someone in that situation, a poll or survey is a safe place to have your opinion heard without concern. Therefore, these surveys and polls on opinion can be a valuable way for someone to (though very indirectly) state their opinions and concerns.

   In class, we discussed the importance of enlightened understanding of public issues and thinking critically about them. In order to have the opportunity to think critically, your opinion may have to be tested through discourse. To take the words from a famous internet meme "one cannot simply..." test their opinion without voicing it and perhaps defending it. The biggest issue (in my mind) with polls and surveys to collect data on public opinion is the issue of ENLIGHTENED UNDERSTANDING. If there are people filling out these polls and surveys regarding their opinions of public problems and issues without being informed of their causes, effects and consequences can these polls and surveys ever truly gauge the public opinion? I have to say, respectfully of course, no.

     I agree with Hauser, active involvement and discourse (whether it be public meetings, on college campuses, demonstrations, or even just between a group of friends) better reflect public opinion than data collected from surveys. I have to agree with Hauser's argument that our best course of action as citizens to get the issues that are important to us heard and solved is through the rhetorical process.