Poll: Americans wrong about computer security

TalkBack 7 of 14:

Next »

« Previous

• Thread View
• Flat View

Not so hard

My understanding of statistics is primarily rooted in the social sciences. While I have taught in an MBA program, I make no pretense of knowing what specific processes HR professionals might use.

I do understand, however, that the larger the population, the smaller the size you need in your sample, to retain the same confidence interval and margin of error.

While this poll might well have been poorly conducted (I don't have access to the information Thx-1138 apparently can access) it is entirely within modern statistical sampling practice to use "abbreviated" methods such as random digit dialing to contact respondents.

It does seem that this comment sarcastically criticizes the polling organization, so some support for the charges, apart from a knee-jerk hi-5 from other adolescents, would be in order to support this critical position.

How exactly could any researcher, with any budget, conduct a statistically safe poll in regards to, say, the population of the United States? My understanding is that the latest US census was unable to compose a final result that all political parties could accept. If the budget of the census and the army of locally recruited pollsters could not secure a definitive statement as to the exact number of US citizens at any point in time, how do you propose any research facility conduct any sort of research on any human phenomenon?

Perhaps thx-1138 would suggest that all such research should stop, that its gains fail to outweigh its shortcomings. If so, a research program alternative to a social policy of "dumb as a doorknob and completely in the dark" would be in order.

Posted by: rgathercoal@...   Posted on: 10/03/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

• Open Standards Technologies Provide the Ingredients for Delivering Security Across the Papa Gino's Enterprise Dell Papa Gino's Holdings Corporation founded by the entrepreneur operates one ... Download Now
• Five Steps to Determine When to Virtualize YourServers VMware Server virtualization isn't just for big companies. Entry-level ... Download Now
• Three Steps You Need to Know to Stop Data Loss Varonis Sensitive data exposed to misuse or loss... it is the stuff of nightmares ... Download Now