[UK-CONTEST] O.T. Re: For Colin G3PSM Re Ofcom Questionaire

[Gerard Lynch]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Colin G3PSM" <colin at g3psm.net>


> My thanks to all for the various comments.   RSGB were advised that
> Ofcom were going to contact 2,000 licencees at random in addition to the
> published consultation but we were not advised how this would happen.

I was about to send this:

I got one and have returned it already.  In conventional marketing terms you 
would expect a return of about 140 from a mailing of 2,000.  If that is the 
return rate, that would result in a not particularly statistically 
meaningful sample as it would have a margin of error of +/- 8.2%.  Besides, 
if they are 'targeting' Novice and Intermediate class licensees that is, 
firstly, not a random sample, and, secondly, would probably result in a 
lower return rate.  One needs to be very careful that Ofcom are not trying 
to skew the sample to get the result they want.  On the other hand Mori are 
a reputable company and tend not to muck around with their reputation.

- when I saw James' reply.  This reassures that the survey itself is being 
done properly and the oversampling of lower licence classes (with 
reweighting to follow) is reasonable as there are less of them and, un-Ham 
PC as it is to say it, they are probably less likely to respond.

I still think we need to watch very carefully how the results of the survey 
are presented.  Compare the data on page 4 of today's (Wednesday's) Daily 
Telegraph with the malicious and deliberately misleading way some of the 
results are used in the front page story to show how even the most robust 
survey can be abused.  Personally, I wouldn't trust Ofcom as far as I could 
drop kick them.

73

Gerry G0RTN
Vanity Page at http://www.gerrylynch.co.uk