Comments on: Pax Americana http://blog.amoslanka.com/2008/07/29/pax-americana/ Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:30:44 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: amoslanka http://blog.amoslanka.com/2008/07/29/pax-americana/#comment-540 amoslanka Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:00:38 +0000 http://amoslanka.wordpress.com/?p=551#comment-540 @mike -- thanks very much for diggin so much deeper into it. And you're definitely right about skewed data. Its part of the problem with basing our lives on poll data, especially when dealing with polling organizations that are biased. (not implying pew is, i'm only saying that people can "manufacture" or ask questions in ways that will better result in the results they're looking for.) The margin of error in poll data is often used to balance this inconsistency but biased pollers are beyond even this. Then, the next question is that what if the percentages are even worse than this? What if the sample doesn't truly represent america but what if it is biased in the opposite direction? Once again it comes down to the polling organization and dependability of data. Anyway, thanks again for looking into it more. I guess its even just the suggestion (which seems supportive of my perspective of American beliefs in the first place) that can be troubling. @mike — thanks very much for diggin so much deeper into it. And you’re definitely right about skewed data. Its part of the problem with basing our lives on poll data, especially when dealing with polling organizations that are biased. (not implying pew is, i’m only saying that people can “manufacture” or ask questions in ways that will better result in the results they’re looking for.) The margin of error in poll data is often used to balance this inconsistency but biased pollers are beyond even this. Then, the next question is that what if the percentages are even worse than this? What if the sample doesn’t truly represent america but what if it is biased in the opposite direction? Once again it comes down to the polling organization and dependability of data.

Anyway, thanks again for looking into it more. I guess its even just the suggestion (which seems supportive of my perspective of American beliefs in the first place) that can be troubling.

]]> By: subversivechurch http://blog.amoslanka.com/2008/07/29/pax-americana/#comment-539 subversivechurch Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:44:44 +0000 http://amoslanka.wordpress.com/?p=551#comment-539 All of the data can be found here. http://religions.pewforum.org/ Here is the page of <i>how</i> it was figured out. 35,556 total participants, which is actually not too bad for a survey. The response rate for this survey was 24 percent. I won't post everything here, but I will say it is worth looking at the boring side of data to see how a few speak for the entire country. While this is a commom practice, it does not diminish the fact that percentages like these can serioulsly sway public opinion. I have seen the data for polls in the USA Today that sureveyed less than 1000 people and they were all from like NYC or something. Talk about skewed data. http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report2religious-landscape-study-appendix4.pdf The link above is the actual data behind the survey. Take a look. Do you think 35,556 speaks for the entire country? -mike All of the data can be found here.

http://religions.pewforum.org/

Here is the page of how it was figured out. 35,556 total participants, which is actually not too bad for a survey. The response rate for this survey was 24 percent.

I won’t post everything here, but I will say it is worth looking at the boring side of data to see how a few speak for the entire country. While this is a commom practice, it does not diminish the fact that percentages like these can serioulsly sway public opinion. I have seen the data for polls in the USA Today that sureveyed less than 1000 people and they were all from like NYC or something. Talk about skewed data.

http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report2religious-landscape-study-appendix4.pdf

The link above is the actual data behind the survey. Take a look. Do you think 35,556 speaks for the entire country?

-mike

]]> By: subversivechurch http://blog.amoslanka.com/2008/07/29/pax-americana/#comment-538 subversivechurch Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:15:35 +0000 http://amoslanka.wordpress.com/?p=551#comment-538 Oh, I'm not worried about practice vs. claims. I'm more worried about the total number surveyed and from where. Those things get extrapolated (sp?) way out of proportion. I'm going to go digging, I'll be back. -mike Oh, I’m not worried about practice vs. claims. I’m more worried about the total number surveyed and from where. Those things get extrapolated (sp?) way out of proportion. I’m going to go digging, I’ll be back.

-mike

]]> By: amoslanka http://blog.amoslanka.com/2008/07/29/pax-americana/#comment-531 amoslanka Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:55:06 +0000 http://amoslanka.wordpress.com/?p=551#comment-531 @mike -- its also true that if you were to know the precise demographics, you'd likely find a large number of the proclaimers of any religion to be little more than claiming it as a religion. actual practice is another matter. perhaps that helps understanding how religions seem to contradict themselves in the actions of those who claim them, but I still see the un-love among those who also claim to practice. thanks for the comments :) @mike — its also true that if you were to know the precise demographics, you’d likely find a large number of the proclaimers of any religion to be little more than claiming it as a religion. actual practice is another matter. perhaps that helps understanding how religions seem to contradict themselves in the actions of those who claim them, but I still see the un-love among those who also claim to practice.

thanks for the comments :)

]]> By: subversivechurch http://blog.amoslanka.com/2008/07/29/pax-americana/#comment-530 subversivechurch Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:42:01 +0000 http://amoslanka.wordpress.com/?p=551#comment-530 I got what you mean. Actually, I'm suprised diplomacy was a high as it was. I would love to see the demographics for those surveyed. -mike I got what you mean. Actually, I’m suprised diplomacy was a high as it was. I would love to see the demographics for those surveyed.

-mike

]]> By: amoslanka http://blog.amoslanka.com/2008/07/29/pax-americana/#comment-523 amoslanka Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:50:54 +0000 http://amoslanka.wordpress.com/?p=551#comment-523 Sorry -- to clarify, Ash is right that the higher percentages are under good diplomacy, but what I'm surprised at is how large a number is on the other side, instead of closer to zero. And whats more, its the protestants (and closely related Mormons) who are the most skewed toward military strength. Sorry for any confusion. Sorry — to clarify, Ash is right that the higher percentages are under good diplomacy, but what I’m surprised at is how large a number is on the other side, instead of closer to zero. And whats more, its the protestants (and closely related Mormons) who are the most skewed toward military strength. Sorry for any confusion.

]]> By: ash http://blog.amoslanka.com/2008/07/29/pax-americana/#comment-522 ash Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:44:42 +0000 http://amoslanka.wordpress.com/?p=551#comment-522 wait...is that how you read the graph? b/c i see it as the higher percentages were under "good diplomacy," not military strength. wait…is that how you read the graph? b/c i see it as the higher percentages were under “good diplomacy,” not military strength.

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