Sometimes I look at local blogs and just have to wonder. Over at EOD, a lot of discussion takes place about beach nourishment (mostly anti), which is fine. A lot more discussion occurs, however, from the writer and readers who post comments on the blog about how other writers are slanted in their approach, or refuse to expose both sides. Click on the image and read the comments from the author that appear below.
Interestingly, this graphic appears on the right hand side of EOD's blog site. Note the comments below the graph and the parts of the graph marked in red by the EOD editor.
Now, click below to see the mentioned survey in greater detail
Now, let's talk about sunlight, disinfectant, and fair coverage.EOD draws our attention to the fact there were 1338 respondents, and only 55 listed beach nourishment as important. Sounds pretty scant. Yet, he fails to point out the numbers at the top of the survey: 172. That was the number of respondents choosing the top answers to the question--- and there was a tie between affordable/workforce housing and replacing the Bonner Bridge. So even the two number 1 questions garnered only 12.8% each of the total respondents votes. Aside from the fact respondent answers were all over the board, the fact of the matter is, not a single question came close to collecting a significant level of support. If we take EOD at its word, that the raw numbers speak truth, then we must also conclude Dare County residents don't care about affordable housing, replacing the bridge to Hatteras, more beach accesses, or even property taxes (5.6% of the respondents), another issue EOD seems to believe should have the entire population fired up.
In fact, beach nourishment support ranked 9th among the 37 total possible answers, which placed support in the top 25% of the respondents concern. Indeed, support for nourishment bested traffic congestion, traffic infrastructure needs, schools, and drug and alchohol abuse.
Another red mark missing from EOD's graphic is a red mark around the number of the 1338 respondents who checked off "No beach nourishment". I'll give EOD the benefit on the doubt that these were people who opposed beach noruishment since the other question, answered by 55 people, clearly says "Beach nourishment-support". So, while only 55 supported, only 17 voted no. That's 1.2% of the total, and 70% fewer than those who expressed support.
The reality, of course, is that this survey says nothing about anything. There are far too few respondents (over 700 skipped the question altogether), and far too many choices for anyone to glean one single insight into what the survehy takers thought important. Even I can't believe beach nourishment support outranks traffic problems.
That is the only conclusion any balanced assessment of this survey could muster. But, if we are going to claim these numbers mean something, then it is only fair to point out to the readers all of the facts; the small number of supporters for any possible answer to the question relative to the sample size, the actual ranking of beach nourishment support relative to all the possible answers, and the incredibly low number of respondents and even lower ranking of those opposed to nourishment.
Light is a great disenfectant, but it all depends upon where one shines it. Or, in this case, doesn't.
5 comments:
Sounds a lot like a Fox News survey to me.
Russ, Russ, Russ,
Give EOD's readers some credit for having the ability to read this survey and draw their own conclusions, just as you did. EOD red marked certain parts of the survey because they pertained to the blogpost. If you think this survey "says nothing about anything", please tell us WHY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CHOSE TO MAKE IT A PART OF THEIR CURRENT LAND USE PLAN (LUP)? Finally, hear this....listen now..;)
Dare County is currently building a DOGGIE PARK, based upon the results of a citizens survey that had only 35 respondants saying they wanted a "doggie park." Analyze that for us. :) :)
Also, Russ, you can slice this pie any way you want to, but here is the explanation for the "chart" you are referring to in your blogpost, as contained in the county land use plan......(quote)Following the demographic questions, the CIP asked respondents to list what they felt were the mostimportant issues facing Dare County. Table 5 ranks the issues that were mentioned most often in the
responses to question 5. Affordable housing and the replacement of the Bonner Bridge tied with the most
responses at 172.(end quote)..
Finally, the fact is that only 55 respondants out of over 1000 even bothered to list beach nourishment, even though they could list multiple issues... Go Figure...and, hey...is it any wonder our county commissioners are so confused??? :) :)
Good points Ray. I think we should agree on one point...there isn't enough empirical data here to allow a commisioner to make an informed decision on any of the listed responses. Does anyone local really believe less than 50 people think traffic isn't a major issue? Its worse here than Atlanta on some days. So I stand by my premise that no commentator should use the survey to prove any point other than apathy since so few people bothered to reply.
EOD probably posted most of the responses himself, since no one really reads that rag.
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