Pew research poll...

[jplinville]

I got this as an email today...

This is a terrific and incredibly easy 13-question test. And it shows results in a number of ways. It clearly indicates that the majority of Americans don't have a clue about what's going on in the world. No wonder our politicians take such advantage of us. It's astonishing that so many people got less than half right. These results say that 80% of the (voting) public doesn't have a clue, and that's pretty scary.

There are no tricks here - just a simple test to see if you are current on your information. This is quite good and the results are shocking.

I believe it was Winston Churchill who opined that " . . . the biggest argument against democracy is a 5-minute conversation with the average voter . . ."

Test your knowledge with 13 questions, then be ready to shudder when you see how others did!

Test your news IQ - Pew Research Center

If the results are correct, it's pretty shameful that the nation has done so poorly at it.

I got all of them correct...how did you do?

[jplinville]

here's my results.

[tbomachines]

I got 12 out of 13. However I have to say it is a pretty poor quiz. I don't GAS what some of our officials look like, nor would I expect people to recognize their mug in a picture. Far more important are the political issues at hand--something I would equate much more than simple face recognition. I am sure that I ended up getting one of the picture ones wrong simply because these people aren't pictured much in the news (was that Ben Bernaki?). Some of the questions are good though, like the Afghanistan casualties (wish they had asked how many total...) and simple stuff like who has majority. For a research poll this is truly awful and has little validity if you were to use this in anything but a chain email (I have some credibility here, I do research fairly often in both my professional and academic life) just because they rely on visual recognition for a lot of it. Basically if you just see the guys name below his picture you can get the quiz right while still having absolutely no clue as to what goes on in the world. For fun its not bad though.

Also, David Cameron is prime minister of the U.K. not Great Britain...shows how much effort they put into it.

[jplinville]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Also, David Cameron is prime minister of the U.K. not Great Britain...shows how much effort they put into it.

British Prime Minister suffices...it's written and referred to as such daily. Since you feel the need to be precise, it's the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

[tbomachines]

Originally Posted by jplinville

British Prime Minister suffices...it's written and referred to as such daily. Since you feel the need to be precise, it's the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

As they should have put it....

Pew is a professional research agency, they should uphold high standards.

[jplinville]

It was written for the average person...and as proven, the average person cannot answer all of the questions without mistakes.

[tbomachines]

My criticism still stands though, the average person's bearing on current political events is not denoted by whether or not they can recognize a face. Although in their favor - it is a "News IQ" quiz, which can count stuff like pictures. They could have asked what Lady Gaga wore to the most recent awards show and had it be valid by that frame of mind. In that perspective what is wrong is your chain email.

Basically This quiz is not a good way to show people's understanding of political events.

[Dave Donaldson]

I got 10 right,, I'm from Canada,,The only reason I got some right is I watch the business news,,losing money on the markets aghghghghg should have cashed in and bought parts for the Benz,,, :{

[davidmash]

I guessed on Sotomyer and the Elephant. I could not pick her out of a line up. To this day I cannot figure out the jack ass and elephant thing. I guessed and got lucky.

[The Clk Man]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

I got 12 out of 13. However I have to say it is a pretty poor quiz. I don't GAS what some of our officials look like, nor would I expect people to recognize their mug in a picture. Far more important are the political issues at hand--something I would equate much more than simple face recognition. I am sure that I ended up getting one of the picture ones wrong simply because these people aren't pictured much in the news (was that Ben Bernaki?). Some of the questions are good though, like the Afghanistan casualties (wish they had asked how many total...) and simple stuff like who has majority. For a research poll this is truly awful and has little validity if you were to use this in anything but a chain email (I have some credibility here, I do research fairly often in both my professional and academic life) just because they rely on visual recognition for a lot of it. Basically if you just see the guys name below his picture you can get the quiz right while still having absolutely no clue as to what goes on in the world. For fun its not bad though.

Also, David Cameron is prime minister of the U.K. not Great Britain...shows how much effort they put into it.

I agree that it was a poor test. I don't know a thing about politics, geography or current events and I scored 11 out of 13. On each question, there was 2 answers that could easily be dismissed leaving a 50/50 chance of a correct answer. I suspect that the op googled some of the answers.

[spdrun]

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

I agree that it was a poor test. I don't know a thing about politics, geography or current events and I scored 11 out of 13. On each question, there was 2 answers that could easily be dismissed leaving a 50/50 chance of a correct answer. I suspect that the op googled some of the answers.

I got 13 w/o Googling. If you occasionally glance at the papers and the news, it's probable.

[jplinville]

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

I agree that it was a poor test. I don't know a thing about politics, geography or current events and I scored 11 out of 13. On each question, there was 2 answers that could easily be dismissed leaving a 50/50 chance of a correct answer. I suspect that the op googled some of the answers.

You guessed wrong, once again.

Looks like I'll once again add you to the ignore list, since you seem to take joy at taking pot shots at me...I guess you're drinking again?

[The Clk Man]

Nope, still sober. I was just posting my educated opinion.

[The Clk Man]

Originally Posted by spdrun

I got 13 w/o Googling. If you occasionally glance at the papers and the news, it's probable.

I agree my man.

[pj67coll]

Originally Posted by davidmash

I guessed on Sotomyer and the Elephant. I could not pick her out of a line up. To this day I cannot figure out the jack ass and elephant thing. I guessed and got lucky.

I got all thirteen as well, with the two exact same guesses as you for the elephant and SotoMayor. In the case for the elephant it was pure guess work, in the case of SotoMayor I like to think of it as "educated guesswork"

- Peter.