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In article <19930722.053951.626@almaden.ibm.com> DaveRoberts@vnet.IBM.COM (Dave
 Roberts) writes:
>A co-worker asks the following:
>
>   Someone did the following survey:
>     - Population = 600
>     - Surveyed   = 600   (ie. non-random)
>     - Question posed is binary: happy - yes or no
>     - Return: 225 answered, 80% yes, 20% no
>
>   One should be able to calculate the deviation on a random survey. How
>   about a non-random one with a serious non-response bias like the above
>   example? What deviation should be used? Can it be calculated? These
>   kinds of surveys are common in the corporate world but I always raise
>   the issue of it being non-random and having serious non-response. Now
>   I'd like some expert feedback and some numbers.
>
>   smw
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>| Dave Roberts - OOUIs R US                                           |
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One approach on how to conduct these surveys is to not permit
'nonresponse' while still preserving privacy:

     Interview the respondents face-to-face. Ask them to think of
a number between 1 and 10. Then say,
     "If the number is even, answer the question 'Are you happy?'.
If the number is odd, just say 'No'"

     Robert George
     The OSU Statistics Department
     (speaking only for myself)