How do you think the Government should conduct surveys?

**Maggy J** · 03-02-2010, 20:12

What would be the best way for TPTB to find out what we the public think on a variety of subjects without annoying members of the public?

Gary L · 03-02-2010, 20:25

The question is. do they care what anyone thinks?

**Maggy J** · 03-02-2010, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

The question is. do they care what anyone thinks?

And thus we get the typical apathetic response and look who gave it..

Now we have that out of the way can we have some ideas on how the government should be doing this?

martyh · 03-02-2010, 20:30

i know ..unsolicited phone calls from russ

no seriously ,there are loads of ways from mail drops to street canvassers even interactive tv all of which are less intrusive than phoning a unlisted number on a sunday afternoon

Gary L · 03-02-2010, 20:33

How do they do find out what we think now?

there's petitions on the 10 site. they can have 1,000's of people telling them what we think on each individual subjects.
do they take any notice?

we told them what we thought about the poll tax.
we told them what we thought about the war.
they already know what we think of Gordon, and Gordon doesn't care.

**Paul M** · 03-02-2010, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

i know ..unsolicited phone calls from russ

To be more accurate, unsolicited phone call, monitored by Russ

03-02-2010, 21:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

What would be the best way for TPTB to find out what we the public think on a variety of subjects without annoying members of the public?

Hold public meetings and advertise them in newspapers

Or put the surveys in newspaper supplements along with a prepaid envelope allowing members of the public to choose to fill them in or not.

Cold calling randomly or accosting people in public is imo opinion not on

If the first 2 methods were adapted I feel there would be a cut down in costs as a lot of the staff who who randomly calling motp would no longer be needed ( including Russ

)

Mick Fisher · 03-02-2010, 21:11

No matter what form the survey takes and no matter what responses you make to the questions, the results will be manipulated to show that most everyone is in favour of the proposals the survey is designed to promote.

Don't waste your time with them it will make no difference to the outcome!

Sign a petition or go on a protest march instead.

**Russ** · 03-02-2010, 21:27

After tomorrow I can discuss more about the current survey as there's one last round of calls to make.

The reason phone calls are made is not (what a shocker) to annoy people but to guarantee the best chance of reaching people. Statistics have shown that a flyer through the door or in a newspaper usually gets binned even before being read. Canvassing people in the street rules out those who are housebound. Setting up an online petition prejudices against those who a) aren't online and b) don't get to hear about the survey. Even those who scream abuse usually listen to what we have to say first.

Whilst it's true that not everyone have a phone these days the vast majority do and (like it or hate it) is currently the most effective way by far of getting views and opinions. This is why I'm pretty much convinced that the well-intentioned petition against social research calls will go nowhere.

03-02-2010, 21:39

I fully believe it will go nowhere just the same as how politicians take little notice of what the public say

Some politician will get hold of the results and low and behold policy promises will be made just in time for the general election. Then as soon as thats all over the gov will do what they want anyway regardless

Propaganda and spin is all these surveys give the gov

**Maggy J** · 03-02-2010, 21:50

The problem with the don't bother brigade as far as I can see it is you cannot have it both ways.You can't complain that the government don't listen if you never tell them what you think they should be doing because they "never do anything" and then on some forum or down the pub say that 'they should be doing so and so'.

Also IF you leave it to those who will do surveys you will have to accept that theirs is the viewpoint that is accepted by TPTB unless you offer an alternative suggestion.

So again what is the best way for the government or alternately for us to get our opinions through to TPTB?

03-02-2010, 21:55

despondency grows over time. How many times have you voted for a politician only to have him/her go back on their promises?

I didnt just wake up one day and think oh I am no longer going to trust the gov and join your " dont bother brigade" ive spent 22 years old enough to vote do you not think my opinion has grew over time?

Gary L · 03-02-2010, 21:57

If you could give us an example of such an instance. a question that the government want to hear our views on?

Sir John Luke · 03-02-2010, 22:01

I'm sure there are plenty of people who would be happy to take part in a phone survey, so that is probably still the best option, BUT, there should be the opportunity to opt-out (in advance, though, not after you have been disturbed and had to make your way to the phone). There may even be an argument for making the TPS more selective, so people can opt out of marketing and/or survey calls, rather than simply extending it to cover both types of call.

martyh · 03-02-2010, 22:02

well the last time i remember the gov listening to the public was when a few thousand people got together and decided to tell the gov they didn't want the poll tax any more so the gov listened and......changed its name that took about 70,000 people and countless partitions and probably kept Russ quite busy monitoring cold calls to find out what people thought of it