[lbo-talk] Gallup poll: 98% cooperation rate

[snitilicious at tampabay.rr.com]

At 01:19 PM 4/29/2004, Doug Henwood wrote:
>>The cooperation rate was 98% -- that is, only 2% of those households we 
>>contacted refused to be interviewed. The average interview length was 70 
>>minutes.
>
>This can't be true, of course, since there's never 90% of anything.
>
>Doug

holy dead guy on a stick! A surveyor in the u.s. would be creaming his or 
her jeans for that kind of response rate. As you point out, they're 
critical to the u.s., so it's not exactly like they're doing it out of fear!

Methinks they want a chance to be heard.

I also thought one of the responses was interesting because it mirrored 
u.ser's tendency to say things like "my doctor is great, but the u.s. 
healthcare system is awful." Or, "my marriage is wonderful, but marriage as 
an institution is in decline."

In the u.s., that kind of response has been read as reflective of u.ser's 
desire to present themselves as successful, happy individuals. IOW, it's 
read as a consequence of our individualism.

Kelley