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This is in response to Mr. Jack Bonney's comments that the subscribers to
this list are paranoid and cynical. Perhaps, sir, you will consider what
your reaction would be to receiving the following invitation. (To avoid
misunderstanding, all that follows, save my name and signature, is fictional
and meant merely to be an unscientific test of the power of the written word
to elicit emotional response. I make no claims to scientific validity that I
cannot (or will not) back with verifiable data and credentials.)
We are conducting research into the work undertaken by "research
scientists", either for "legitimate scientific purposes" or "for the
betterment of humanity."
If you are involved in any way with preparing and delivering surveys,
whether on paper, via the telephone, or in electronic form, then we would
appreciate receiving your knowledgeable comments and opinions on any or all
of the following observations:
1. A study by the National Institute of Science reported in 1986 that more
than 70% of all surveys produced by educational institutions and legitimate
research firms failed to produce statistically valid and replicable results;
this represented an estimated $30 Billion spent in the preparation, delivery
and analysis of surveys.
2. An analysis of more than 40 textbooks on how to prepare "surveys" shows
that the fundamental process remains unchanged since before world war II;
replacing a questioner and a notebook with a computer has done little to
reduce the time and costs involved nor to improve the quality of the results.
3. The wrong people are using the wrong tools in the wrong way to do this
work; the majority of persons issuing survey were neither trained nor hired for
the work, and don't like doing it.
4.Most of the "professional interest" groups related to the development and
delivery of surveys appear to be network forums for finding jobs or for "ad
hoc" frequently asked questions about how to do the work -- very little is
done about research into the work and the disciplines and techniques that
are involved.
5. Most individuals who prepare surveys do not know how to phrase questions
to elicit useful responses -- because of this, the real losers are those
who must rely on the results of the surveys.
6. Surveys are expensive to develop and deliver -- in most cases, they do
not generate revenue for the funding organization. Most survey developers
have no expertise in costing and budgeting for this work, address only part
of the entire process, and fail to report the total costs to management.
We will appreciate your contributions and comments; copies of our findings
will be sent to all participants who request.
Sincerely,
B. Brooks
M. Elizabeth Brooks
Documentation Specialist
BEA Systems, Inc. Phone: (908) 580-3117
140 Allen Road Fax: (908) 580-3030
Liberty Corner, NJ 07938 Email: beth -dot- brooks -at- beasys -dot- com
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