They go to pain points: “Cunning” polls appeared before the elections in Russia

MK experts believe that it was not by chance that the rain of numbers and “facts” erupted over the domestic social sphere. Even the rain comes for someone, so to speak. Experts saw in this “weather phenomenon” both attempts at self-PR and elements of unfriendly propaganda.

The mechanism of “crafty statistics” – sometimes also called vulgar – is well developed. It is based on the distrust of man in general (let us also remember Doubting Thomas). Based on the mistrust of some compatriots in officialdom according to the formula “don’t believe, don’t be afraid, don’t ask.” But in the era of fakes and extensive information, people are still looking for numbers to rely on. So “capsule” studies on a given topic proliferated. Usually they are ordered from some small media agency or simply taken out of thin air. Nobody knows exactly how the question or questions are posed in such studies. It is absolutely unknown who interviews people, in person or online…

But the result is a foregone conclusion, and it is truly amazing. Two thirds of teachers are dissatisfied with their work at school, for example. Such a catchy headline will be picked up with pleasure by the media, and it will spread faster than the wind in the information space. With a simple remark: “the research data is at the disposal of the editors.”

In this way, in just a year we learned how bad everything was. Doctors are massively dissatisfied with the professional training system, not counting the accompanying factors. Kindergarten teachers are outraged by their salaries. Teachers are oppressed on several counts: salaries, difficult students, inclusion, bureaucracy. Yes, and ambulance drivers are quitting en masse – they are fed up with low rates and overtime.

And in general, if you type into a search engine: “… dissatisfied”, instead of dots, substituting the profession of public sector employees from the list of socially significant ones, a survey is guaranteed to appear. For “here is man,” nothing human is alien to him. Including acquired negativism, distrust of the “top” and a natural desire to live better.

Public figures and other figures love to juggle with numbers and tricks of crafty statistics. For example, observing a breakdown of public transport in a particular area or a flood in a particular house, it doesn’t matter – they strive not only to generalize a social ulcer, but also to diagnose it for all of Russia. As in the popular analogy: “The average temperature in the hospital is normal.” Or, as they say in IT, data is being transferred and distributed. Who does this and why – answer MK experts.

“Such dirty methods are often used by political strategists,” says Sergei Markelov, general director of the communications agency. He notes that such pseudo-research cannot be trusted: they are done in strict accordance with the customer’s instructions. But such surveys sell “faster and better than classical sociology.”

“It’s quite easy to throw in a message that doesn’t correspond to reality and shake it up. Especially on the eve of the elections, says Viktor Panin, chairman of the Society for the Protection of the Rights of Consumers of Educational Services. “And I am absolutely sure that such fakes and stuffing have only one goal – to rock the boat as much as possible.”

“Such manipulative technologies are usually used by industry lobbyists, populist politicians and not very conscientious journalists who create a sensation out of the blue,” comments political strategist, chairman of the board of the Civil Society Development Foundation Konstantin Kostin. — In order to understand the real situation, it is necessary to analyze economic statistics: the ratio of wages and living standards in the region, as well as staff turnover in relevant professions.

Economist and professor at the Financial University Alexander Safonov gave his explanation of the phenomenon of “evil statistics” to MK.

– Recently, they have been trying to simplify research by resorting to so-called microsociological surveys. But we must say right away that sociology is not statistics. Sociology analyzes people’s opinions over a very short period of time. And often it is in sociology that a person’s emotional state is assessed.

For example: you ask the respondent whether he is satisfied or dissatisfied with his salary. And at that moment he received a notification about the debt. And, of course, he will answer the question in the negative. Therefore, in serious sociology there is a method of focus groups, which allows you to work scrupulously with people. And removes responses that are noisy. But it’s expensive. And only specialists with relevant experience can engage in focus groups.

– Why are so many pseudo-studies related to schools, teachers, medicine, transport and other sensitive, or even painful, points of society?

– These are all topics that no one will doubt. For example, if in Dagestan the average salary is 35 thousand rubles and you ask an employee if he is happy… You see, they will go to such pain points. Because then you will somehow get into people’s consciousness. Everyone understands that you didn’t lie. And they agree, based on the experience of their own lives.

The head teacher from Moscow, primary school teacher Lidia Leonidova, commented to MK on the statements of some public figures speaking in defense, in particular, of teachers.

– Sometimes I also come across figures about us teachers, and information about what the school lacks. Indeed, probably, the way the questions are formulated in them is how the results are obtained. And I, for example, can see that the questions are being raised by those who don’t know a thing about our work.

For example, salaries are an important point for any person, of course, for teachers too. But if you listen to teachers, they will discuss other issues: lesson replacements, consultations on the Unified State Examination, interaction on social networks, classroom management… The modern teacher lacks more time than money, to put it simply.

Although there are positive changes here too. We have convenient program designers for all subjects, retraining and advanced training takes place online, as well as conferences. There are electronic sources with ready-made scripts for lessons and class hours. Now, if only the portals worked without failures…

Looking back even a few years ago, we can say with confidence: a lot has changed for the better in our profession. However, such changes are less noticeable to those who are not immersed in school life.

I listen to some of the speeches and don’t understand why, instead of rabid criticism, you can’t talk about the fact that there is a lot of good things. As they say, some people’s glass is half full, and some people’s glass is half empty.

Are they asking colleagues about burnout? I don’t believe in the critical figures about teachers’ dissatisfaction, sorry. Without interest in children, in life, without the desire to teach, no one would last a year in school!