There is a paper of this title on the ONS website with a number of curious
features. The paper gives the findings of a joint project of the ONS and
the Statistics Commission watchdog.
The sources of information used were a bit limited. There were nine focus
groups. One of the areas of study is entitled 'Qualitative study of key
opinion-formers views of official statistics'. Opinion formers are defined
as 'members of society that have the capacity to influence the views of the
general public'. There were 36 interviews with opinion formers.
The references in the paper are a bit thin. Mostly to official documents,
and there are four references to unpublished papers - including one from
Canada and one from Australia. But there is no reference to the Radical
Statistics Group or to any publication by Radstats.
The ONS has never given any recognition to Radstats - although Radstats is
the only organisations that is continually commenting on the factors than
influence public confidence in official statistics and has done so for many
years. Now it seems the Commission watchdog is following the same path.
I wonder if any individual member of Radstats was interviewed as an 'opinion
former'?
Ray Thomas
35 Passmore, Tinkers Bridge, Milton Keynes MK6 3DY
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel/Fax 01908 679081
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