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Re: Tooth Fairy Sample
> Has statistics
> changed over the years, or is this still true?
Bill,
You are not behind the times. For a survey to be performed with as
little bias as possible, the sample must be "randomly" selected,
which is a valid subset of the entire population to which the
statistical correlation is being used to result in a conclusion. If the
sample is appropriate, there are many methods in which to
determine the sample size. Again, if done appropriately, the
Confidence Limits can be very accurate (just look at well-done
surveys, such as Zogby) where their surveys pretty much reflect
their sample results.
What you pointed out is similar to other polls taken (yes, even the
MSNBC poll that has been addressed here lately). It is similar to
all polls where the results are based on those who log on and
submit the sample questions. These are not reputable surveys in
that they reflect the attitudes of those who log on only. The poll is
not representative of the population at large. The MSNBC poll has
been accessed by primarily pro-nuclear factions. It doesn't appear
to coincide with the larger, more appropriate national polls that
have been taken in the past (as far as percentages that is). AOL
polls do the same thing, but they do state that this is not a
scientific survey since it is highly biased by those who take it.
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Sandy Perle Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100
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