Posted by Peter Ceresole on October 20, 2003 at 20:11:40 from 80.177.22.49 user PeterC.
In Reply to: Re: Social Obstacles, RP & good old Cook posted by Peter H on October 20, 2003 at 19:21:58:
I have been back through the postings and I note that Peter Ceresole bases some of his anti-RP views on ‘BBC audience research’
Do I? Where? If you mean the remark that parts of the population felt alienated from BBC programmes because of the 'middle class' look and feel of them, which has a lot to do with the use of RP, this is a long running observation that comes up time and again not just in BBC surveys but other social surveys, and is supported (no more than that) anecdotally in conversation.
a phrase which in my house prompts gales of sarcastic laughter. Does anyone know anyone who has taken part in such ‘research’ ever? Nuff said
Yes, that's the normal reaction of people who know nothing about statistical methods and about sampling. And it's quite wrong. Properly conducted surveys on correctly selected samples of the population produce remarkably accurate results. There are lots of books about it; you could read it up.