Most Taiwanese uphold their public responsibilities, while there is high discontent over scams and corrupt officials, the Professor Huang Kun-huei Education Foundation said yesterday, citing a poll it conducted.
The poll showed that 94.1 percent of respondents agreed that Taiwanese are mindful of their public responsibilities, which helps Taiwan’s public image.
The poll showed that 94.6 percent of respondents agreed that Taiwan is a friendly and well-mannered society.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
The results echo the 2022 International Civic and Citizenship Education Study, in which Taiwanese students ranked first in civic knowledge, the foundation said.
Its poll showed that 95.6 percent agreed that Taiwanese use polite language daily.
Ninety-one percent said that members of the public were mindful of others’ feelings, while 92.1 percent concurred that despite differing opinions, most people respect other people’s freedom of speech, the poll showed.
It showed that 89.4 percent agreed that Taiwanese are honest and do not lie, while 82.3 percent agreed that Taiwanese are considerate.
It showed that 93.7 percent believe Taiwanese would yield their seats to those in need on public transport, while 87.1 percent agreed that Taiwanese do not jockey for position while driving.
Asked about changes to levels of respect for others, 31.1 percent felt that it has improved, 53.8 percent said there is no noticeable difference and 12.8 percent said respect for others has worsened, the poll showed.
It showed that 78.5 percent were repulsed by rampant scams, while 62.1 percent abhorred officials who are corrupt or flout the law, the poll showed, adding that 32. 2 percent believed that false information was ubiquitous.
Asked what could be done to improve public morality and consciousness, 73.3 percent said they hoped the media would have a more positive influence, while 58.4 percent said they hoped that public figures would lead by example.
Lee Chi-ming (李琪明), a retired professor who taught in National Taiwan Normal University’s Department of Civic Education and Leadership, said that acts of civic responsibility can stem from positive or negative mindsets.
That duality should be taken into consideration when such things are studied, Lee said.
People must develop independent thought and educate themselves about scamming methods to prevent falling for them, he said.
People must do their best to provide oversight of the government and prevent abuse of power, he added.
The poll, conducted from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30, garnered 16,892 valid samples from adults residing in Taiwan proper, the foundation said.
It did not provide margin of error details.
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