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A Public Survey
What is it?
To investigate a public policy issue, what is needed is not only research for statistics but search for personal anecdotes. To make this study more multifaceted, a public survey was designed and given out to thirty participants, all of whom are randomly sampled at a local public library. The survey has three factual questions and one optional interview section. It is designed not only to test the society’s informedness on the issue but also to look for stories and comments people have. The data provided intriguing insights into the social aspect of food insecurity. Furthermore, interacting with others made the study a lot more personal.
Figure 8
Data** and Analysis by Questions
Question 1 "How many people in the U.S. experience food insecurity?"
Figure 9: Q1 Answers
Figure 10: Q1 Dot Plot
The most common answers are 50% and 10%, with other responses spread in the middle and a few responses on the higher and lower ends. Many subjects expressed doubt in their answers, proving that little attention from the general public was given to this topic. The answers are a lot higher than the original expectation and the actual percentage of 12.7%. Though this might be caused by the sample being taken a public library, the data still reflects the survival pressure people today are facing. It probably also means that these participants' communities are full of people in need of support. A point worth noting is that even though 50% is the most prevalent answer, the second most common response is 10%, and two participants' best estimations are even less than 1%. If, as theorized above, everyone today is facing crushing pressure, higher numbers should be the more popular answers. Therefore it can be concluded that the pattern is more complicated. Most likely, the cause here is the division within our society: the existence of a group of more privileged individuals who think everyone else lives their relaxed lifestyle.
Question 2 "Are there health problems associated with food insecurity? If so, what are they?"
Question 2 "Are there health problems associated with food insecurity? If so, what are they?"
Figure 11: Q2 Answers
As it can be seen in the chart, malnutrition is the most common answer. The responses seem to focus more on the health conditions related to lack of quality food instead of lack of food in general, which is correct. The public seems much more informed on Q2 than Q1. This might be caused by how Q2 can be answered from anecdotes and how Q1 needs strong statistics, showing that people's information might mostly come from experience.
Question 3 "How many Americans participate in food assistance programs?
Figure 12: Q3 Answers
Figure 13: Q3 Dot Plot
The most frequent responses are 40% and 1% or less. Similar to Q1, the answers are very diverse; however, the responses here are less of an overestimation. 7 answers are less than the actual percentage of 25% while 8 are over it. The two "peaks" from Q1 continue to be visible here, though both are shifted down 10% and a third peak(*1) of 70% appeared. Interestingly, all subjects except for two estimated that the participation rate in food assistance programs is lower than the food insecurity rate. In reality, almost twice as many people receive food assistance(25%) than are food-insecure(12.7%). This might indicate that many of the participants personally know individuals who are in need of help but not receiving any. Additionally, with adequate assistance, food-insecure children shouldn't have worse health but many still do (*2). The two statements mentioned above might suggest the possibility that people in greatest needs are not receiving resources, or it can be that the only reason many people are not food-insecure is that they are receiving help. One solution might be to reassess the food-insecure population and make sure all programs are easily accessible for everyone.
Question 3_2 "How much money were spent on these programs in 2016?"
Figure 13: Q3_2 Answers
Figure 14: Q3_2 Dot Plot (on a logarithmic scale [*3])
Even more participants than in Q1 expressed doubt on their answers, showing that the public is even less informed on the issue of cost. Though most subjects' estimations for the food insecurity rate are much higher than the actual number, their estimation of cost is significantly lower. In fact, all of the guesses are much lower than the actual spending of $101.9 billion.
Conclusion
Most of the public does not seem particularly informed about the statistics aspect of food insecurity; however, they do have experience and anecdotal knowledge. Many overestimated the food insecurity rate, suggesting the high economic pressure they and their community might be facing. On the other hand, another group presented underestimations, indicating their unawareness of the actual living situation in this country. Almost all participants believe that the food insecurity rate is higher than the program participation rate, opposite to the reality. A possible explanation to is that many a lot more people need help than there is help available, or that assistance might not be going to the right places.
Throughout the entire survey, many subjects expressed their belief of the ineffectiveness of the government and their distrust towards it. Others thought that the "rich community" can contribute more. Both somewhat reflect the current political climate. Yet, participants also conveyed optimism in the rising awareness and new innovations in this area of public policy. Hope, it seems like, is not lost. With collaboration between the public and the government, there will be a bright future for hungry people in America.
Interesting Interview Quotes
How to Help
“I did not experience any condition of food insecurity. I think states and federal government cannot help, but the rich community should contribute more in order to help reduce the food insecurity in the poor communities. I know that some starting non-profit companies are now being established in Silicon Valley to collect and leftovers from restaurants and from rich communities and give items away to poor and needy. The government and states should encourage and support those type of non-profit organizations.”
“Provide healthier food options through assistance programs. Implement programs that can educate people about healthier choices.”
“The situation has been resolved by 2nd harvest food banks, charitable individuals, local gardens, donated food from restaurant, etc. Help was acquired from local resources. Lesson: There is enough food to go around. Better organization of resources is needed.”
“Free lunch at schools, better food options for children.”
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Related Issues
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“Much of this is job/income related. No or little money, no or little food, etc. One finds out how to cut cost, or find a cheaper way, or to go without. It is very prevalent in the older community. These folks like the jobless have very limited funds. The food banks do a lot, but even more is needed.”
“Yes, once or twice when I’m between jobs. It’s hard to find cheap food, I’m still looking for them. Also people go on black market to trade like a week of food stamps for two big bottles of booze so substance abuse is a problem too.”***
“Homelessness is a bigger problem. The housing here is so expensive, especially in the Bay Area, and what are you going to do when you only have the money to pay another month of rent? You don’t eat.”***
“I have known people to be in a position of food insecurity. This was usually due to loss of income or insufficient income. They usually retrieved help from either religious organizations or food banks, however it can be very easy to get caught up in a cycle of dependence.”
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The Government
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“Taking care of the poor and the unlucky is what governments are for. The U.S. seems to have forgotten this.”
“Get a back bone.”
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Answers from Question 1
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"The poor, homeless, and forgotten"
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"Most people due to rental expenses and bills, but maybe not starving"
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"A lot more than the government admits."
Figure 15-29: All survey forms
Footnotes
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** Due to some participants omitting questions (especially Q3 and Q3_2) and everyone responding in different formats, only interpretable answers were presented in charts and graphs. To see all 30 surveys, go to the gallery above.
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*** quotes from verbal interview, so they are not the exact words but meaning were largely kept the same
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*1 most likely caused by random chance
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*2 refer to "What is it?" --> "Health and Why We Should Help" for more information
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*3 How does one read one? Look at the axis label instead of merely judging with eye, or just look at the chart instead (it's okay I have trouble looking at it too =(^x.x^)=).