Anecdotal Evidence Survey - 2020

This is the second survey conducted by Media Development Foundation (MDF) to study the impact of disinformation and conspiracy theories on public perceptions and to identify conspiracy theories that are most widespread among population. The survey also aimed at studying public attitudes towards selected foreign policy issues as well as the Covid-19 pandemic, including vaccination.

The survey rests on the anecdotal evidence method, applying evidence collected in an informal manner and relying heavily on personal experience.1 There is a big difference between anecdotal evidence and scientific evidence. Scientific evidence is based on systematic observation, measurement, and experimentation and can be independently verified or proved by anyone using scientific methods. Anecdotal evidence is a claim that an event/story is true or false based on isolated examples of someone's personal experience. As it relies on personal experience, anecdotal evidence, in contrast to scientific evidence, cannot be independently verified.

When people strongly believe their own views, they tend to prove them only with the information that supports those views. This phenomenon, in the searching of information, is also called "predisposition.”

Anecdotal evidence is everywhere in our daily lives and it can come from any person we meet – a family member, neighbor, cashier at a store, hairdresser, taxi driver, etc.

Author:
   Sopo Gelava
Researchers:
   Marian Dangadze (Kutaisi), Elmaddin Mamedov (Marneuli), Tamar Oniani (Ozurgeti), Tamar Todua (Zugdidi)
Questionnaire, methodology:
   Tamar Kintsurashvili, Sopo Gelava
Editor:
   Tamar Kintsurashvili
Link: Anecdotal Evidence Survey - 2020