The Intellectual Standard
Article Title
The Issue Of Internet Polling
Abstract
Surveys, polls, and focus groups are common phenomena in our daily lives. We live in a world where big data is big business. Large decisions hinge on the accuracy and predicative power of these numbers. Therefore, it should not be surprising that there is a market for the malicious manipu-1ation of data. Extreme care must be taken in the collection, checking, and processing of data to prevent decisions from being made on incorrect assumptions. In order to demonstrate the full potential and possible impact of these attacks, I shall provide the following example: John Doe is a member of the United States Senate. In recent years, the political pressure to make a preemptive strike against a potential nuclear threat has grown exponentially. In some of the more extreme cases, several senators have begun asking for support to make a motion to the President for military intervention. Eventually, Senator Doe is asked to sign a petition for their cause. Senator Doe decides that he must take the concerns, priorities, and beliefs of the voters in his state into account before he can make a decision as their representative.
Recommended Citation
Nichols, Nick A.
(2012)
"The Issue Of Internet Polling,"
The Intellectual Standard: Vol. 2:
Iss.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/tis/vol2/iss1/4