(1/n) How to Manufacture opinion?
This is a story published today in the @timesofindia The headline might mislead you to think of this as an overwhelming opinion of parents from Hyderabad.
This is a story published today in the @timesofindia The headline might mislead you to think of this as an overwhelming opinion of parents from Hyderabad.
(2/n) But the reality is that the headline is based on an online survey conducted by a private association in which 1118 people participated and 918 felt that the schools should be opened only after a cure or vaccine is found.
Why is this story problematic at many levels?
Why is this story problematic at many levels?
(3/n) The minimum you should do in such a story is mention the sample size of the survey, without which the story is incomplete, misleading and attempts to manufacture opinion. manufacture opinion.
(4/n) Once the sample size is mentioned, it is for the readers to decide the sanctity of the survey, methodology and whether or not to believe it. Without the details of the sample, the reporter has done a great disservice by passing this off as an overwhelming opinion of parents
(5/n) Just to give you an idea, more than 15 lakh students are enrolled in schools in & around Hyderabad.
Since this is an online survey, it is quite possible that majority of the parents who responded to the survey are those educating their kids in costly elite schools.
Since this is an online survey, it is quite possible that majority of the parents who responded to the survey are those educating their kids in costly elite schools.
(6/n) The poor, lower middle class are left out. These are parents whose kids do not have the choice of not attending school and don't have gadgets to attend online classes, for who the midday meal is an important source of nutrition.
(n/n) Publish survey results, but at least be transparent about it, give readers the opportunity to decide for themselves whether or not to take these survey results seriously. Do not help manufacturer opinion
