Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 21:51:26 -0500
From: Victor D’Amato
Subject: Re: Chatham Tax Survey
My pleasure, Steve.
A survey is (supposed to be) a scientific instrument – a tool to
collect non-biased, statistically sound data. For the results to mean
anything, the administrator of the survey needs to ensure that the
population of respondents is representative of the population of
interest (in the case, presumably the populous of Chatham County) and
that the instrument itself (the questions) does not introduce bias.
It doesn’t appear that any attempt has been made to properly
administer this particular survey. The results, therefore, will be
completely worthless – i.e., junk science.
Please understand that I am not offering any political judgment in my
concerns regarding this survey. I just object to the use of a
meaningless survey in this manner. It is ill informed at best,
disingenuous (i.e., political spin) at worst. A petition would be
more appropriate, direct, and meaningful in my opinion.
I’d still like to know what entity – if any – is sponsoring the survey
and what it would be used for.