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Article #237

Re: Taste Test

#237
From: J. Eric Roskos
Date: Fri, 09 Aug 1985 12:22
44 lines
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> In order to broadcast their taste test commercials, I'm sure that Pepsi had
> to use a very large sample of the population ...

I don't think this is true, unless the commercials claim a large sample was
taken.  Consider similar "statistical" claims in commercials:

	"More doctors recommend the pain reliever in <brand> than any other
	 pain reliever on the market today."

(Because <brand> contains aspirin.  Even if no doctors recommend <brand>,
the claim is still valid.)

	"More Olympic medalists use <brand> running shoes than any other."

(Because <brand> donates them.  I'm not sure, however, that this sort of
claim is allowed any more.)

	"Choosy mothers choose <brand>."

(Makes no statistical claim at all.)

	"9 out of 10 dentists surveyed recommend <brand> for their patients
	 who use <generic type>."

(The sample size here could be 10; furthermore, all of them could have said,
"I don't recommend using <generic type> at all, but I guess if people insist
on using it, <brand> would be a good choice.")

Awhile back, I asked in here about the relative temperature of the sodas in
the Pepsi taste test.  This is because, back when the test was going on, a
number of people at the college I was attending participated in the test;
all of them INSISTED that the Pepsi had ice in it, whereas the Coke was
room-temperature.  I have never figured out whether this was just a rampant
rumor, or the truth in all cases, or just the local people running the
taste test trying to improve the results.  (You should therefore assume it
was a rumor unless you can determine otherwise!)
-- 
Shyy-Anzr:  J. Eric Roskos
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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site peora.UUCP
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From: jer@peora.UUCP (J. Eric Roskos)
Newsgroups: net.misc.coke
Subject: Re: Taste Test
Message-ID: <1462@peora.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 9-Aug-85 08:22:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: peora.1462
Posted: Fri Aug  9 08:22:44 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 14-Aug-85 22:21:08 EDT
References: <55@tekchips.UUCP>
Organization: Perkin-Elmer SDC, Orlando, Fl.
Lines: 44