Survey Results Shared by Mainstream Media Are Meaningless

If you have been following news reports recently, you might be a very confused person by now. 

I am referring to surveys done by various agencies which are described as "global information" companies such as Nielsen.

But do these surveys tell us anything meaningful?

Lets have a look at a sampling of these so-called "surveys" which are supposed to give you the pulse of the people.

Lets take labour surveys.

On Tuesday, 11 November 2014, we had this in the Straits Times;

All well and good.

But then, 2 days later, on 13 November 2014, the same Straits Times had this:

Alamak! What happened?

So, we are "confident" but "less than happy"?

Ok.

But earlier in the year, in February, we were told that we were in fact "happy".

This was after we were told - just a month earlier - that we were among the most unhappy in the Asia-Pacific region;

So it is no surprise that by April, we were already burning out.... maybe from the emotional confusion?

But seriously, these "young professionals" should suck it up and emulate our teachers.

Maybe "young professionals" are burning out because they are unhappy over salaries, as reported in May this year?

Well, maybe these Singaporeans who are unhappy with their salaries should take a leaf out of our seniors' books.

Our older Singaporeans say, in fact, that "less pay is ok"... according to a survey of 50 people by the Straits Times in May 2014;

But no worries, at least Singaporeans feel they have good jobs... as this survey last August found...

I think you get the point.

Surveys need to be taken with a huge pinch - perhaps a whole spoon-full - of salt.

They are, in this writer's estimation, quite meaningless - changing as frequently as whichever way the wind blows.

And if you still are not convinced that surveys are meaningless (well, mostly anyway), here are more for you to chew on and decide for yourself.