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Major Holocaust Poll Shows Bias

Major Holocaust Poll Shows Bias. Case study of a flawed survey. Survey Results: Holocaust Doubters.

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Major Holocaust Poll Shows Bias

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  1. Major Holocaust Poll Shows Bias Case study of a flawed survey

  2. Survey Results: Holocaust Doubters • In April 1993, newspapers across the country reported "chilling" news: 22% of American adults surveyed in a major public opinion poll said they thought it was possible that "the Nazi extermination of the Jews" never happened. • An additional 12% percent of adult respondents in the survey -- sponsored by the American Jewish Committee and conducted by the Roper organization -- said they did not know if it was possible or impossible.

  3. "What have we done?" asked a stunned Elie Wiesel, famous writer and Holocaust survivor. "We have been working for years and years […] I am shocked that 22 percent -- oh, my..."

  4. Flawed Wording • Results of the AJC/Roper survey were inaccurate • Question 16: "Does it seem possible or does it seem impossible to you that the Nazi extermination of the Jews never happened?" • confusing compound structure • double negative wording • Likely some 992 adults and 506 high school students surveyed may have believed that the Nazis exterminated millions of Jews but nevertheless agreed that it "seems" impossible.

  5. Revision • AJC redid the poll: • "Does it seem possible to you that the Nazi extermination of the Jews never happened, or do you feel certain that it happened?" • The results of the second poll: Only about one percent of Americans thought it was possible the Holocaust never happened, while eight percent were unsure.

  6. To learn • Polls and surveys can provide important information about the public's beliefs. • But to be valid, they must be well-structured. • We should always look for information about: • the sample size • representativeness of the population • whether the participants were random or self-selected • and so on.

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