Watch Your Words

Words affect everything. We have learn that if you phrase your speeches in line with what the audience wants to hear, the reception to your speech will be more favorable. Likewise, in surveys, tiny changes to the wording can alter opinions. That is why surveys regarding politics are always so particular about it.

For example, in a study, surveys were sent out to voters before an election. One side received a question if it was "important to vote". The other side received the question asking if it was "important to be a voter." With this, people who read the word "voter" were 14 percent more likely to vote on Election Day.

Perhaps by using the word "voter", it causes people to identify themselves with it, resulting in action done. Perhaps the word "vote" sounded like a command for people to do, and people felt less inclined to do so. As phrased nicely, "One was about a simple action, the other was about being a type of person."

Another example would be a health care debate. Organizations conducted polls to see how much of Americans supported a "public option" for their health insurance plans. One was called, "government administered health insurance plan", the other "government-run health insurance plan". 66% support goes to the former, and 44% to the latter. Even though we do not know how such large government organization system works, it is quite obvious which one we would prefer too. "Administered" sounds as if the government are helping us (and giving us what we deserve), while "run" just sounds like another clinic that we have to go and request for services and pay up.

I am sure that context matters all the time, but these experiments just goes to show how one word can easily alter opinions. As we continue to take on more modules, we will have opportunities to create lots of surveys for our projects and research, so we have to actually put more thought into phrasing our questions. We have to be very mindful and avoid traps such as leading questions, like those questions that ask if you have a problem and you need help with it, therefore if I introduce you to a solution, you cannot say no.