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When I wrote, 'It doesn't have to fit...' I was parodying the questionnaire designer's approach. Apologies, Jen. I'm always forgetting to signal changes of voice like that. A questionnaire designer had better be finicky and had better design questions that cut things at their joints or as near as possible. Or else go and work for a profit-making 'research company'. The two Ipsos MORI questions were not fit to be included in a pilot questionnaire worked out on the back of a fag packet five minutes before the deadline. I've seen better efforts from first-year undergrads on introductory research-methods courses. No doubt others have seen better from precocious primary-school kids. Chris > -----Original Message----- > From: psci-com: on public engagement with science > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jennifer Gristock > Sent: 15 November 2006 14:18 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] are scientists using unscientific > data to attack unscientific 'intelligent design'? > > I'll agree that it doesn't have to fit. But if it doesn't > fit, we shouldn't imagine that the results tell us anything > about public attitudes to the concept and role of > 'intelligent design'. > > Chris, I see you work with electronics. For me, this is like > asking people if they will install (in their homes) > > (a) a solar panel (which comes with a compulsory parrot) > (b) a cat > (c) an amorphous silicon thin film module without a parrot > > and then interpreting a lack of people choosing (a) or (c) to > mean that no-one likes alternative energy! > > No 'dead parrot' jokes, please. > > (Oh, go on then) > > JJG ********************************************************************** 1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the following message: set psci-com nomail 2. To resume email from the list, send the following message: set psci-com mail 3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the message: leave psci-com 4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including list archive, can be found at the list web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html 5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication and science and society can be found at http://psci-com.ac.uk **********************************************************************