For me, one of the ideas that I really thought was interesting was the notion that correlation doesn't equal causation. I remember reading about how test prep companies like the Princeton Review raved about the great test scores that students received after going through their program. What they failed to take into account is that by the very nature of their industry they are attracting students that are likely to get high marks. That is to say that if a child's parents are willing to pay extra money so that their child has a greater chance of doing well on a test, odds are that the parents are at least moderately well-off and fairly likely that they are highly educated themselves, leading to the greater likelihood that the child was bound for a relatively high test score from the outset.
This was very similar to something I read in the book Freakonomics. When discussing what is and what is not important in parenting, the authors argued that having books in one's house is a sign of a good parent. Contrary to what some might think, they contended that the physical act of going out and buying books would be futile. Instead, they suggested that the mere fact that you have books around your house illustrates that you are probably well-educated and are an involved, responsible parent.
zimme558: April 2012 Archives
In politics, it seems as though money is just as important as the issues. I examined the websites of three different politicians that seek your decision, just in slightly different ways. For Barack Obama, it seems as though he is utilizing the foot-in-the-door technique of persuasion when he asks are you in? with a request of your email address and zip code. By doing so, he isn't blatantly saying that you should give him your money, but he is now capable of sending you emails and letters. For Mitt Romney, it seems as though he is using the door-in-the-face technique because the first page of his website asks for your donation amount, as well as other personal information, even including your occupation. Finally, it appears as though Ron Paul isn't utilizing either of the aforementioned strategies. Of the 11 tabs on his main page, donate doesn't come until number six. It seems as though he is more concerned about his message than actually getting your donation. This would normally not make sense in a typical election, but in the case of Ron Paul it is evident that his chances of being nominating are minimal and he is therefore pushing his ideology first and foremost in order to have some influence on the next administration's policies, whether Romney or Obama.
