🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992May18.175443.26519@pencom.com> robin@pencom.com writes:
>Well,... I just HAD to comment here.  Either John doesn't read CR, or he  
>doesn't read the information on how they do their studies... For the cars:
>They rate the cars based on number of reported problems in a specific  
>mechanical/trim area of the vehicle.  The "ratings" are then based on the  
>"average" number of problems for that particular area, versus the actual for  
>that car.  (ie. if I had 10 problems with the electrical system on my  
>Oldsmobile, and the average for all cars (in the survey) was 5, I would have  
>a dark black circle (far below average) on my electrical system rating.  If I  
>had only 2 problems then I would have a solid red circle (far above  
>average).)  CR, makes a disclaimer explaining how they collect results, and  
>how they make their evaluations; I suggest you read it and decide for  
>yourself.

There is a problem with any study where you solicit the information from
the people who have it - people misrepresent the facts because their
perception clouds their mind as to what is ``reality''.

For example, if I really like my car, I am likely to forget that minor
electrical problem I had 3 years ago when I bought it.  I was mulling
this article over last week when I first read it, and I thought of the
perfect example - I really like my car (it's true ...) and when I was
thinking of what had been wrong with it since I bought it, I completely
forgot about the gear shift cable that broke about a week after I
bought the car.  Had I filled out the CR survey I'd have written down
the broken radio and oil pressure gauge, but not the broken cable.

This isn't uncommon at all - people regularly block out events that
don't agree with their attitudes or beliefs.  [ NB: One very common
example of this is the way that women ignore pregnancies that ended
in abortion, but not those that ended in live birth or miscarriage.
An example of this as it relates to the car industry is the Mitsubishi
Eclipse/Plymoth Laser example that I keep giving. ]
-- 
John F. Haugh II      | VNET: LCCB386 at AUSVMQ | "Physical Fitness is the
SneakerNet: 042/2F068 | MaBell: (512) 823-1078  |  basis for all other forms
Internet: jfh@devnet.la.locus.com               |  of excellence"  -- JFK