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Revision as of 17:01, 22 October 2010
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==Comments==
7 Responses to “ Survey says… ”
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Kato
Interesting piece.
It has become pretty clear lately that internet polling is a sham, yet in the UK at least, vital policy discussions are still being guided by polling sites like YouGov, which are open to all kinds of manipulation.
This is another example, like Wikipedia, where reality does not match the touted claims. Snake oil salesmen are creaming massive profits by extolling the virtues of these flawed ventures.
Dan T.
I’m on some of those Internet survey panels myself; perhaps I even answered some of the surveys you commissioned (some of the questions above sound vaguely familiar). Sometimes the surveys ask weird stuff making me wonder just what the point of a survey is; your commentary gives me more background on that.
They can be pretty annoying with their repetitive questions; I’m sick of constantly getting asked my age, sex, zip code, and education level even though those are already on file in my record, and sometimes the same survey will ask those demographic questions more than once (it’s pretty common for a survey to ask my age at the beginning, then my birthdate at the end).
If a survey is too long (with lots and lots of questions about stuff I don’t give a flip about, like asking me a long series of questions of what I think of the difference between different brands of salty chips, their taste, their commercials, whether a particular brand gives “an impression of wholesomeness” or is one I “feel good about letting my kids eat” (I don’t actually have any kids), eventually I get to a point where I just want to get the darn thing over with so I’m not so careful in reading and answering the questions, perhaps producing some of the phenomena you see. On the other hand, I do often try to diligently answer questions even if it requires an annoying amount of digging through stuff like receipts that show, to the nearest dollar, how much I spent for my last tank of gas or printer ink cartridge (I’m fortunately enough of a packrat to usually have those receipts even a few weeks later when the survey is asked; I imagine most others, who threw away the receipt, just give the survey-takers a guesstimate off the top of their head.)
Am I breaking their rules where they keep reminding me that one condition of participating in their surveys is to never tell anybody else about what they ask in their surveys? (But then they keep sending me stuff branded with their name as bonus prizes, meaning that if I actually use it, people may notice that I’m a member of that survey panel and ask me about it.)
PJ
What a great discourse on the issue. In the face of how much data (and common sense) point to the likely invalidity of much of online poll research, the extent to which some people don’t really care about the validity of the data is disappointing. But in reality, the low cost and quicker execution are admittedly compelling incentives not to care. Your trap questions are a great way to try to separate the good from the bad and ugly.
RFK
I was about to say that I have been a participant in not just four, but five of the activities mentioned. But then I realized that you said ‘in the last 3 months’. Perhaps some responders were overlooking that requirement as well.
Please be advised that duplicate bridge is just one style of contract bridge. There are many contract bridge players who do not play duplicate bridge.
I participate in online surveys to rate my latest restaurant meal. I dare say that I have not been honest by saying a manager stopped by my table when, in fact, a manager was nowhere in sight.
Gregory Kohs
@Dan: I suppose you are breaking rules about non-disclosure, but (like the GFDL license and Wikipedia) I have to also suppose that very few entities who issue content under such terms actually expect that the terms will be followed to the letter by everyone subject to the terms.
@RFK: What are you, some kind of bridge director or something?
RFK
There is always room for humor – even on AKAHELE. I don’t have many answers but I enjoy browsing and searching. Count me as a regular AKAHELE reader.
Sarge
I am not an active internet survey participant, but had to laugh a little at myself while reading this, because I do have a bread-making machine in my home. It was given to me by my somewhat senile grandmother a few years back as a housewarming gift. I certainly do not see myself as the sort who would fit the demographic of a stereotypical bread-making machine owner (if there is even such a thing), but if I ever did run across that question on a survey, I would have to answer it honestly!
Very well written. I thoroughly enjoy all the content on Akahele thus far, I am glad to have stumbled onto this site, it has been refreshing and thought provoking.