Confounding Wal-Mart

Submitted by Todd Kunioka on Fri, 07/21/2006 - 18:07
in

Wal-Mart has begun another "public opinion" survey in Rosemead.  To reduce the usefulness of their results, you might consider answering "creatively" when it comes to the demographic questions.

Of course, they're only marginally concerned about your actual answers to these questions, because these are pretty much the same questions they've asked at least twice previously.  I think their real goal is to conduct a "push poll," in which they're actually using the survey as a ruse to present biased information to change your opinion on the recall and the Wal-Mart.  That's the only way I can explain why they'd conduct a third wave of "sampling" on these same questions.  It's also the only way I can explain why so many of us keep getting phone calls.

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Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics

Submitted by Todd Kunioka on Sun, 08/06/2006 - 21:40.

Well, apparently my original suspicion was true: they really don't want to get an accurate measure of public opinion.  Several members have reported being polled, and being informed that this was a "marketing" survey," or that it was sponsored by the city of Rosemead.  Yet again, we see that Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart's contractors have demonstrated a casual relationship with the truth.  Shame on them.

But the earlier advice remains:  If you are called, by all means, answer their questions.  You don't necessarily have to answer them honestly, of course.  If they're not playing honest in conducting the survey, you are certainly under no obligation to answer honestly.  But keep them tied up as long as possible.  The longer they're talking to you, the fewer other potential voters they can reach with their lies, damn lies, and statistics.