Hello, everyone. This week, I'm going to run through my search for information on my topic. The topic I have chosen for my position paper is, "Children should not be allowed in schools (or pre-schools) unless they are fully immunised". For anyone who has ever been on the internet, you'll know how contentious this topic can be.
The search for resources has been draining, to say the least. Reading through people's opinions on the other side of the argument has brought up some interesting, and horrifying, information. The ammount of skewed data and misinformed people out there is shocking. This isn't a new topic for me either. I have followed facebook pages on the topic of science for around a year now. The people who run these pages make it their duty to expose and bring forth the darker side of the internet, the pseudoscience community. Pages like 'We Love GMOs and Vaccines', 'Genetically Modified Humans for Monsanto', 'A Science Enthusiast', 'Refutations to Anti Vaccine Memes' and 'Things Antivaxers Say'. I joined a closed group called 'Revolution for Vaccine Truth' and posted a questionnaire on their page. I asked a few questions trying to find out exactly why they're against vaccines and what has lead to their choice and what if anything, would change their mind. It was informative, at first, but then I was labeled as a "demon" and quickly banned from the group.
The search for information on the scientific side has been much more enjoyable and fruitful. I've learned a lot from the lessons this week, how to use Google Scholar through the Massey Library account and now have found a lot that will help me. I've also requested library books that will help with data. I emailed the Ministry of Health for information as well and even had a reply. They explained how their recent plan for "No jab, no pay" policy was canned because it was seen as a violation of the Bill of Rights Act, 1990, "The right to refuse to undergo medical treatment".
I've found even after two weeks of being in this course, my critical reading has been sharpened usefully. I'm learning how to read papers and studies in an efficient way to find if it's useful or not and I'm finding general news stories on science are being scrutinised more carefully by me now.
My position paper is taking shape in my head and I look forward to crafting it.
A quote from a brilliant man, about the quest for knowledge, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself", Carl Sagan.
Shaun
6 comments:
Hi Shaun,
Firstly, I think its awesome you took on this topic, as you say its a greatly contested subject. One I feel everyone can't help but have an opinion on, but as you say some opinions are based on non factual information, which I can only imagine can be very frustrating when attempting to find scientifically backed information for each side of the argument.
Secondly, I think its great you emailed the Ministry of Health directly. I spent well over two hours going through health reports and surveys on their website, something i found very frustrating. Maybe an email will be sent tomorrow from myself.
Thirdly, I have also found this paper great for giving help, tips and the needed information to improve on my own reading, writing and researching.
Look forward to possibly reading the paper and future posts.
Ryan.
Hey Shaun,
I think you have chosen a really great topic to study because there is a lot of information out there that take both opinions. It's really cool how you have actually chosen some diverse ways of researching as well like joining a Facebook group. Personally, I probably wouldn't have thought of joining a group like that. It's quite interesting to think that they would be so against your opinion and even going as far as labelling you as a demon. I also think that emailing the Ministry was a smart move because they are probably the most reputable source of information.
I'm really looking forward to hearing what else you come up with! You seem to have a lot of knowledge on a lot of different subjects and you are a very intriguing person to talk to!
Bridget
Kia ora Shaun,
I think your multi plan of attack on your topic is quite brilliant, getting information from sources I hadn't thought of doing (ministries, Facebook etc).
It also came to interest me surrounding the 'right to refuse medical treatment' as I wasn't aware of that it was in the Bill of Rights Act.
Could discussion of this topic (if it was ever adopted at a government level) force a look at the Bill of Rights Act? I see that right as slightly strange now-er days as, personally, I wouldn't refuse medical care if offered to me. However, I can see that my bias would be in favour of this topic so I look forward to reading your paper on it.
Keep the good work flowing,
N
Hi Nathaniel,
I like the idea of discussing whether to change the Bill of RIghts Act. That might require a bit more research into what would be involved there. The way I see it at the moment, very much like Australia's situation, is that there is still a choice. You still have a choice to make, whether or not to vaccinate your child. Nobody is forcing it on you or your child. But if you don't vaccinate, then you will not be sending your child to school or daycare etc.
Hi Bridget,
I think the approach I took towards facebook research was a good place to start, and it has given me other places to look. The cherry-picked data from other studies the antivax (pro-disease) crowd supplied me has given me plenty to look into. But I need something a bit more substantial than people posting and commenting on facebook.
Hi Ryan,
You're right about this paper, I think it's great being able to communicate together like this and share ideas and tips and tricks etc. It's been a great introduction into University distance learning for me so far.
I was surprised that the MInistry actually emailed me back, I think it's a good idea for you to email them too. I look forward to hearing what you get back from them. I may email them again and see what is involved in changing the BIll of Rights Act, or ammending or something of the sort, as Nathan said.
Thanks everyone for your feedback! :)
Hi Shaun,
I think it's safe to say there are some scary uninformed people out there!
It's really good to see you are improving in your reading skills.
I like your technique of asking why people have their opinions, this is something I'm going to apply to my own research in the future.
Hi Jade, thanks for your feedback.
I like to ask people exactly why they have their opinions and it's always interesting to hear whether or not people will actually change their mind based on evidence. Usually, when people are going against scientific consensus, they won't.
Shaun
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