[net.consumers] Telephone surveys

rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn) (10/24/85)

> > The sales pitch is usually disguised as a survey of some kind.
> 
> I won't answer questions for phone surveys; I wonder if the legit
> survey operators are aware that the "population" they reach has
> been altered?

The surveys I've gotten over the phone are laden with leading questions but
virtually lacking in decent demographic controls.  Since it's no good for a
surveyor to get through 90% of a questionnaire and then have to scrap it
because I won't answer personal questions (marital status, income, etc.)
for someone I've never seen nor heard of, and since it's also a waste of my
time, I generally don't answer surveys either.

Surveys by phone have horrible demographic skewing to start with--you
have to have a phone and be there to answer it before any of the other
control problems even arise.  (BTW, think about that the next time you hear
"90% of those surveyed...")
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...At last it's the real thing...or close enough to pretend.