Data watching: Following the people’s moods

We consume data on a daily basis from multiple sources and in various formats. Often due to this excessive number crunching and overload of information, the most important messages from data are lost. Polstrat’s objectives include creating methodologies and processes that will help channel a solution-oriented approach and better decision-making.

Through “Statistically Speaking” we hope to use political, social and economic data and analyses to judge the mood of the Indian public. The first article in this series breaks down Covid-19 and public perception about the pandemic, using data collected since 16 March 2020 in India. Having accurate measures of public opinion becomes extremely important in a pandemic, as the crisis and the consequent periods of lockdown were unprecedented and exceptional for the country. These surveys help us gauge public sentiment and how prepared they are to deal with the crisis. At the same time, they give us a glimpse into people’s reactions to changing government policies designed to tackle the spread of the disease.

Shiv Sehgal is the Director of Polstrat, an Indian political consultancy.