“Public Opinion: Economic development, Ethnic differences,
and Elections"
Dear Friends, Supporters, and Members of PASA,
Moments after one of the most challenging parts of the semester—midterms—the Public Administration Student Association (PASA) is proud to report another successful "PASA production." During the midterm exam period, between the projects due and the studying to do; student organizations normally put the extra-curricular on hold. Understanding that sacrifice is essential to service, PASA broke the mold and sought to address the 2nd part of its mission—providing opportunities for professional development.
On Thursday, November 2nd,
PASA sponsored a talk with Dr. David C. Wilson of the
As
Dr. Wilson took the podium, it was clear that the lecture was going to be
unique. We were privileged that Dr. Wilson shared of his ground-breaking
research, but even more privileged because of his willingness to share of
himself. Thus, he was careful to
cover the nuances of his career path and career development during his
presentation. He was frank about his initial neutrality towards data and 34%
score on a college statistics test. He spoke about receiving his MPA and PhD
degrees and his work with the Gallup Organization. The attendees were also
intrigued as he described his experiences collecting public opinion in
As an individualist with an interest in political psychology, Dr. Wilson described various methods used to assess and/or manipulate how individuals think. He described how methods, as inconspicuous as question order, are used in campaigning, public administration, and public opinion polling to generate certain responses. Though complex in design, Dr. Wilson was able to make his research accessible to all of the attendees. With attendees from among the community, Rutgers Administration, Rutgers faculty, MPA alumni, and MPA student body, this was one of the successes of the event.
As
he concluded his presentation, the energy and inquiry spilled over into the
question and answer session. We chart it as a success that Dr. Wilson’s
presentation was able to both inform and inspire. Dr. Wilson communicated that
research methods are not limited to class or project; they are essential in the
understanding of people. Thus, he encouraged the attendees to “market skills
not degrees” and to hone their ability to “think systematically and
objectively.”
PASA would like to thank Dr. Wilson for his commitment to public service and scholarship, Associate Provost Felix James, Dr. Richard Harris, and Dr. Gail Brooks for their support, each of our attendees, and you—friend, supporter, or member of PASA—for your interest in the success of our organization.
Sincerely,
PASA
Leadership Team
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