$1)$ How do you go about educating yourself on topics and policy issues you are unfamiliar with? How frequently do you read research reports? When you look at research, do you first attempt to find information that supports your viewpoint? Or do you look for information that disconfirms your viewpoint? Which is a better approach?

$2)$ Do you think the organizations that conduct research and polls are biased in some regard? Support your claim with evidence. Would an organization$/$group ever have an incentive to portray their data in a biased manner? What are the incentives against doing so$?$

$3)$ Studies and polls are both forms of evidence that politicians can use to draw conclusions. However, it has been said that we live in a $$post$-$truth$$ era where emotional appeals are seen as more convincing than facts. Why do you think that is the case? Why do you think facts have lost their appeal? Why do people no longer want to believe experts? What has changed about society?

$4)$ Several studies have found people will ignore facts if they do not already agree with the conclusion, this can impact public opinion on topics. Knowing this, should politicians use polls in their decision$-$making? Why or why not? Does the American public possess the capacity to make decisions regarding policy? Why or why not? What are the implications for democracy if people don$$t believe facts and polls only measure values?