Comments on: Please help with a science survey

By: CaptainBlack

CaptainBlack — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:02:22 +0000

If we assume that those behind the survey are not total incompetents (dangerous I know) and given that everybody lies, I think there is a distinct possibility that the survey is really about something other than its cover story.

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:40:44 +0000

I’m going with the assumption that the scientists doing this survey know that they are surveying the Internet and have a sense of that that means. Most projects like this have multiple methodologies. There is a good chance that this has been thought through.

I’m promised a copy of the resulting publication. We can check out how it all went!

By: Mu

Mu — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:36:34 +0000

This is “how to pharangulate a survey”? Somehow the readership of Greg Laden isn’t quite the typical cross section of society.

By: Virgil Samms

Virgil Samms — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:03:36 +0000

Earlier in the debate, O'Donnell accused Coons of constitutional ignorance, saying that "perhaps they didn't teach you Constitutional law at Yale Divinity School."

By: Virgil Samms

Virgil Samms — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:00:45 +0000

Have no fear, Christine O’Donnell is here to lecture on both science and constitutional law:
O’Donnell questions separation of church, state

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) â?? Republican Senate nominee Christine O’Donnell of Delaware on Tuesday questioned whether the U.S. Constitution calls for a separation of church and state, appearing to disagree or not know that the First Amendment bars the government from establishing religion.
…
During the exchange, she said Coons’ views on creationism showed that he believes in big-government mandates.
“Talk about imposing your beliefs on the local schools,” she said. “You’ve just proved how little you know not just about constitutional law but about the theory of evolution.”
…

By: Harbo

Harbo — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:00:49 +0000

This requires pharyngulation. What an appalling piece of irritating nonsense. i want 3 minutes back

By: CaptainBlack

CaptainBlack — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 07:19:16 +0000

You do realise that the sample selection method being used makes this survey valueless don’t you?

By: Hp

Hp — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 06:45:39 +0000

Well, I don’t agree with those who called all the questions into question. On the other hand, I felt that my personal participation had more to do with establishing error bars than influencing actual numerical trends.

Perhaps I would be better at answering surveys if I knew even less about statistics?

By: P. Locans

P. Locans — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 06:16:56 +0000

MadScientist, I just took the survey, and I did not see any absurd questions like that. Certainly not that one! Which questions were they? Could be the survey changes for different takers?

By: MadScientist

MadScientist — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 06:13:33 +0000

I agree with Gwen – some of the questions were of the type:

Who created the universe?
(a) Abraham’s god
(b) Brahma

As for how questions are asked (as pointed out by Clam#5), that’s pretty obvious when it comes to political polls. In the British comedy “Yes, Prime Minister” one character demonstrates the art of crafting poll questions.