In which my government continues to lose the statistician vote
Granted, the Harper government's contempt for data-based policy is well-documented, but surely they wouldn't rely on a self-selected study to glean important information about the Canadian population, right?
Wrong!
The Conservative government is scrapping the mandatory long census form for the 2011 census, replacing it with a voluntary national household survey.
Hmm. I wonder if respondents of a certain socio-economic or ethno-cultural background might be more or less inclined to answer the longer survey. After all, if that's the case, then we'll end up with completely useless data. Let's ask assistant chief statistician Rosemary Bender, who is responsible for the new survey. Surely she'll know!
Bender would not comment on how the change might affect the data in terms of whether respondents of a certain socio-economic or ethno-cultural background might be more or less inclined to answer the longer survey.
In other words, the assistant chief statistician won't comment on whether a survey sent out to millions of Canadians, and which will be used to draft Canadian policy, will even yield a sample that is representative of Canadians.
I propose we replace the survey with an internet poll. Those are cheap, and approximately as useful.
Wrong!
The Conservative government is scrapping the mandatory long census form for the 2011 census, replacing it with a voluntary national household survey.
Hmm. I wonder if respondents of a certain socio-economic or ethno-cultural background might be more or less inclined to answer the longer survey. After all, if that's the case, then we'll end up with completely useless data. Let's ask assistant chief statistician Rosemary Bender, who is responsible for the new survey. Surely she'll know!
Bender would not comment on how the change might affect the data in terms of whether respondents of a certain socio-economic or ethno-cultural background might be more or less inclined to answer the longer survey.
In other words, the assistant chief statistician won't comment on whether a survey sent out to millions of Canadians, and which will be used to draft Canadian policy, will even yield a sample that is representative of Canadians.
I propose we replace the survey with an internet poll. Those are cheap, and approximately as useful.