Latest IAM poll (open to all)

[martine]

Interesting questions about speed...

http://www.iam.org.uk/media-and-research/research/poll

[akirk]

starts well with a preconception in the summary
and then questions based around a set of assumptions
wonder who is sponsoring / behind the survey?

Alasdair

[martine]

starts well with a preconception in the summary
and then questions based around a set of assumptions
wonder who is sponsoring / behind the survey?

Alasdair

Tell me more?

The IAM survey's are done by the IAM itself and used to generate press releases and shape policy.

[Mr Cholmondeley-Warner]

The IAM survey's

The IAM survey's what?

[martine]

The IAM survey's

The IAM survey's what?

Aaarrgh...sorry - I'm normally good at those.

[akirk]

starts well with a preconception in the summary
and then questions based around a set of assumptions
wonder who is sponsoring / behind the survey?

Alasdair

Tell me more?

The IAM surveys are done by the IAM itself and used to generate press releases and shape policy.

Just the way the wording is phrased - there is I think an art in how you phrase questions so that they are open and find out what people really think - rather than having a bias in how they come across... e.g. talking about speed limits - there is an assumption in the available options - if you really want to find out views you shouldn't start from one stance, but allow any option as a reply - so for example it might be that the respondent's view is to raise motorway speed limits to 90 or to 100, or unlimited a la Germany... but there isn't an option to answer in that way...

Alasdair

[Kimosabe]

What a waste of time. What's preventing 'Brake!' from posting a link to that survey on their facebook page and their members filling it in as badged IAM members?

[WhoseGeneration]

Done but why no ex IAM member option at the start?
That'd be another example of why IAM HQ is not thinking enough.

[akirk]

What a waste of time. What's preventing 'Brake!' from posting a link to that survey on their facebook page and their members filling it in as badged IAM members?

exactly - without understanding the starting position of the person filling it in / knowing the honesty with which it is completed then it is meaningless - like so many online surveys, yet we seem to run our country based on such skewed opinions!

Alasdair

[martine]

What a waste of time. What's preventing 'Brake!' from posting a link to that survey on their facebook page and their members filling it in as badged IAM members?

exactly - without understanding the starting position of the person filling it in / knowing the honesty with which it is completed then it is meaningless - like so many online surveys, yet we seem to run our country based on such skewed opinions!

Alasdair

It's a snapshot of opinion - agreed it's not precise but I wouldn't dismiss it so readily. Also if you have too many options it dilutes the message...eg you could have 5 mph increments from 0 - 200mph but I'm not sure it would be relevant. There was a serious proposal recently to increase the limit from 70 to 80 but that seems to have been shelved - hence the 'skewed' question.

[akirk]

I suspect it depends on the motive/ purpose behind the survey - if it is simply to be able to say - the limit should have been raised / it was wise not to - then it works - but the starting paragraph implies that enforcement (e.g. of speed) is a safety measure - which suggests that the survey is starting from a position of one perspective, and not necessarily a correct one...

Alasdair

[revian]

The IAM survey's

The IAM survey's what?

' The IAM survey is'...

Just odd philosophical presentation...' I think therefore I am' variant...

[Mr Cholmondeley-Warner]

The IAM survey's

The IAM survey's what?

' The IAM survey is'...

No - "the IAM surveys are...", in this case

[Kimosabe]

I suspect it depends on the motive/ purpose behind the survey - if it is simply to be able to say - the limit should have been raised / it was wise not to - then it works - but the starting paragraph implies that enforcement (e.g. of speed) is a safety measure - which suggests that the survey is starting from a position of one perspective, and not necessarily a correct one...

Alasdair

I think we're all crediting the IAM with more clout and nouse than it has. Even so, imagine what it's like to know that the survey data you're using to inform policy, is next to useless under even mild scrutiny? Either that or they're being naieve or worse, delusional. Never the less, there'll soon be an army of observers unquestioningly quoting the results of this survey like a gospel. I know the IAM know this but hey, why not add to the nebulous galaxy of stats we're all told we to need to know about. 108% of me believes that.

There's big business to be made from offering four hour long 'courses' in place of three points and a £100 fine. Maybe the IAM are considering this market with a view to expanding their interests.

Must dash, just remembered that I couldn't care less.

[sussex2]

I suspect it depends on the motive/ purpose behind the survey - if it is simply to be able to say - the limit should have been raised / it was wise not to - then it works - but the starting paragraph implies that enforcement (e.g. of speed) is a safety measure - which suggests that the survey is starting from a position of one perspective, and not necessarily a correct one...

Alasdair

I think we're all crediting the IAM with more clout and nouse than it has. Even so, imagine what it's like to know that the survey data you're using to inform policy, is next to useless under even mild scrutiny? Either that or they're being naieve or worse, delusional. Never the less, there'll soon be an army of observers unquestioningly quoting the results of this survey like a gospel. I know the IAM know this but hey, why not add to the nebulous galaxy of stats we're all told we to need to know about. 108% of me believes that.

There's big business to be made from offering four hour long 'courses' in place of three points and a £100 fine. Maybe the IAM are considering this market with a view to expanding their interests.

Must dash, just remembered that I couldn't care less.

Couldn't have phrased it better and have thought that for a long time.