RULE 43

Lay testimony representing the voice of the people is highly regarded in democratic societies. In the United States, people have become almost obsessed with public opinion polls, especially during political campaigns. Newspapers keep us informed of what “the people” think about issues. In fact, USA Today features lay testimony along with that of experts on its editorial page.Speakers often use lay testimony to provide an understanding of the real-life consequences of issues.
When lay testimony is used this way in direct support of a person, practice, or institution, it can be called a testimonial. However, lay testimony cannot be used to establish the objective validity of ideas. That is the job of expert testimony, which deals with the dispassionate determination of facts and carefully considered interpretations based upon them. In contrast, lay testimony often deals with direct human experience and appeals to feelings.