Welcome to the Debate Evaluation!


You'll be evaluating a debate where two sides discuss a topic. Your opinion matters - you'll vote how persuasive each side is in each stage. We will use your feedback to improve the debate quality.

What to Expect:

Debate Structure

The full debate includes:

  • Opening: 4 min audio per side
  • Rebuttal: 4 min audio per side
  • Closing: 2 min audio per side

You'll evaluate a portion of this debate.

Your Evaluation Tasks

For each stage, you'll:

  • Rate the persuasiveness of each side's statements
  • Update your position after hearing each argument
  • Provide optional feedback
Final Comparison

In the final stage:

  • You'll see two versions of each side's closing statement
  • Rate each version independently
  • Select which version you found more persuasive
Important: Before beginning, you'll vote for the side you initially support. After each stage, you'll have the opportunity to reconsider and update your position based on the arguments presented.
Note: Throughout the evaluation, you'll encounter attention check questions to ensure data quality. Participants who demonstrate thoughtful engagement will receive compensation as agreed. If you're unable to commit to providing quality responses, you may exit the survey at any time without penalty.
Second Questionnaire: This questionnaire takes around 10 minutes. After submitting this questionnaire, you will be automatically redirected to the next questionnaire, which will take around 15 minutes. If both questionnaires are completed, you will receive the compensation as agreed. If you are unable to commit to completing both questionnaires at this time, please feel free to exit. We understand that your time is valuable and appreciate your participation thus far.

Rating Guide for Persuasiveness:

1
Poor

Limited evidence with poor organization or fundamental logic flaws. Disengage with no audience awareness.

2
Weak

Reasonable statements with at least one noticeable weakness.

3
Moderate

Reasonable statements, which provide on-topic evidence with logical flow and balanced emotional tone showing basic audience awareness

4
Strong

Reasonable statements with at least one impressive shining points.

5
Compelling

Powerful evidence with effective counterpoints and create deep connection with audience.

* indicate required question

Motion: Labor Unions Are Beneficial To Economic Growth


Question 1: Pre-Vote Stage
Question 2: Opening Stage
Output A - For Side
(Optional) For - Transcript A
Good morning, everyone. We are here today to affirm that labor unions are, without a doubt, beneficial to economic growth.

First, let's clearly define our terms to ensure we're all on the same page. By "labor unions," we mean organizations that represent workers, advocating for improved wages, better working conditions, and overall well-being through collective bargaining. When we talk about "economic growth," we're not just looking at a rising GDP figure. We're considering a range of indicators, including productivity, and critically, income equality. These indicators must benefit individuals across all ages, genders, and income levels within our interconnected global economy.

Now, how should we, as a panel, judge this debate? We propose that the central question we must ask ourselves is this: do labor unions contribute to sustained and inclusive economic progress for all stakeholders? This means more than just a temporary boost to GDP. It demands a fairer distribution of wealth and opportunities, ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are shared by everyone in society, not just a select few.

With that clear framework established, let's move to our core arguments, which demonstrate precisely how unions drive this kind of positive economic change.

First, labor unions demonstrably boost wages. When workers have the power to negotiate collectively through a union, they secure better pay and benefits than they would on their own. According to *a recent analysis by the Center for American Progress in 2024*, union households hold significantly more median wealth—$338,482—compared to nonunion households, which hold only $199,948. What happens when people earn more? They spend more. This increased consumer spending fuels economic growth, creating a virtuous cycle of prosperity.

Second, collective bargaining is a powerful tool for reducing income inequality. Unions help bridge the ever-widening gap between the highest earners and everyone else, fostering a stronger, more resilient middle class. *Research featured in The Journalist's Resource in 2021* indicates that the rise of unions from 1936 to 1968 accounts for approximately 25% of the decline in the Gini coefficient, a key measure of income inequality.

Third, unions make critical investments in worker training and skills development. They understand that a skilled workforce is a productive workforce, and they put their money where their mouth is. *MEPI Policy Analyst Andrew Wilson* highlighted that union programs include a self-financing instrument that does not exist in the nonunion side of the industry. Moreover, unions in countries like Germany have a long history of promoting vocational training and lifelong learning, contributing to a highly skilled workforce and strong economic performance. *A 2012 report by Unionlearn* shows that union learning has considerable success in helping employees access a wide variety of learning opportunities.

In conclusion, labor unions are not a barrier to economic growth, but rather a vital catalyst for it. They empower workers, reduce inequality, and invest in skills development. This creates a more prosperous, equitable, and stable society for all. We urge you to support our position and recognize the indispensable role that unions play in driving sustained and inclusive economic growth.

Output B - For Side
(Optional) For Transcript B
Good morning, everyone. We're here today to discuss why labor unions are undeniably beneficial to economic growth. To begin, let's define our terms. Labor unions are organizations that represent workers, advocating for their rights and interests. While labor unions can sometimes be perceived as confrontational, ultimately they represent workers. These unions work to improve wages, working conditions, and overall well-being through collective bargaining. Economic growth encompasses overall economic well-being, measured by indicators such as productivity, income equality, and job creation.

How should we judge whether labor unions truly benefit economic growth? We believe the key criterion is whether they contribute to a more prosperous and equitable society for all. This means considering not only overall wealth but also how that wealth is distributed.

First, labor unions boost wages, leading to higher consumer spending and, consequently, economic growth. When workers earn more, they have more money to spend, fueling demand for goods and services, which in turn drives economic expansion. According to *a recent analysis by the Center for American Progress*, union households hold significantly more median wealth, around $338,482, compared to nonunion households, which hold about $199,948. This demonstrates the direct impact of unionization on workers' financial well-being. *The Center for American Progress* also points out that the union wage premium is highest for Hispanic workers at 12% and for workers without a college degree at almost 12%, meaning union membership can close racial and educational wage gaps.

Second, collective bargaining through unions reduces income inequality, leading to a stronger and more resilient middle class. Unions help ensure that workers receive a fair share of the profits they help create. *Clark Merrefield, writing for The Journalist's Resource in 2021*, highlighted research in the Quarterly Journal of Economics, noting that the rise of unions from 1936 to 1968 explains about 25% of the decline in the Gini coefficient, a key measure of income inequality. Furthermore, *the U.S. Department of the Treasury* released a report that confirms that unions help reduce income inequality and help both union and non-union workers earn higher wages.

Finally, let's not forget the crucial role that union apprenticeships play in creating skilled tradespeople. *A 2019 study by Olympic Analytics for the Washington State Labor Council* found that joint labor-management programs have completion rates that are 8 percentage points higher than non-union programs.

In conclusion, labor unions are beneficial to economic growth. They boost wages, reduce income inequality, and create skilled workers. As we've seen today, unions are vital for a strong and equitable economy. I urge you to consider supporting policies that protect and promote workers' rights and unionization in your communities. Let's work together to build a more prosperous future for all. Thank you.


(Optional) Question 5: Which factors were most crucial in your assessment?
(Optional) Question 6: How long did you spend on this whole evaluation process (including reading the motion, listening to the debate, and answering the questions)?

If you find that you can't submit the results, please check back to see if you have filled in your name and if you have answered every required question with *. Thank you.

© CMU Debate Team