Suchergebnisse

An introduction to 3 articles on some current threats to interview surveys, & some related problems of public relations with R's. (See SA 0103-B1513, -B1514, & -B1526). A summary of the discussions at the Woudschoten Conference (1963), of the Society of Soc-Sci'fic Researchers & the InterU Instit of Soc Res. A general distinction was made between surveys centering on the fam, & surveys in which the fam played only a secondary role. Until now the fam factor has hardly been considered in Dutch res. The areas under discussion were: (1) Fam & Housing (F. Grunfeld), (2) Fam & Leisure Time (H. Philipsen), (3) Fam & Educ (M.A.J.M. Matthijssen), (5) Fam & Soc Work (P. Ploeger), & (6) Fam & Sociol'- al Res (R.A. de Moor). It was concluded that while the fam is a vital factor in res, it is nonetheless subject to variation. The importance of avoiding generalization was stressed. A. Chapman.

An essay introducing a group of res notes on various aspects of interviewing & the circulation of questionaires. It emphasizes the complex process involved in such inquires & suggests that more fundamental problems in the behavioral sci's must be solved before the techniques of interviewing & obtaining data by questionaires can be brought to a high standard of accuracy. AA.

The question in the title is used to provoke curiosity & stimulate thinking about what future res may be available. The answer may be yes but how can researchers know they are telling the truth? The problem is increasing with the use of opinion research (OR) results in courts. Professional societies need to assist the courts in the assessment of weight given to evidence through the establishment of standards & procedures. OR'chers may increasingly be used as expert witnesses & should consider whether they are willing to submit their res to rigorous cross-examination. Researchers must prepare now to meet the exacting demands to be made of OR in the future outside the court: OR will take its place with other res in a joint attack on problems of national life, such as, desegregation, recession, etc. OR reports must more frequently be put through a procedure of rigorous verification. What is necessary to permit OR'chers to tell the truth? (1) They must find it through better cooperation from R's & checking responses against records known to be accurate & determining what accuracy has been achieved. (2) Interviewers & other intermediaries must perform more effectively. Perhaps, professional interviewers will be required. (3) Accuracy is needed in processing, coding, & analyzing the responses & by testing each of these steps. (4) The user must understand the results correctly. Other essentials are adequate time, a real problem which can be solved, & good performance by supporting services. Correction of weaknesses should not be postponed since this increases the risks & severity of crises that occur. J. D. Twight.

Methodological advances in PO over the past 20 yrs have been sparked by the development of opinion res centers (Princeton, Columbia, Denver, etc), by the expansion of gov-sponsored res during WWII, by the professional associations, & by the failure of the pollsters in the 1948 election. These advances have been reflected in a series of outstanding, & increasingly sophisticated studies. Res methodology has been adapted to a wider field of subject matter, rapid strides have been made in attitude measurement techniques, & principal sampling problems have been partially solved. S. F. Fava.