🚀 go-pugleaf

> 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!)
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> In article <490@t12tst.UUCP> chris@t12tst.UUCP (Christopher Paull) writes:
> >
> > When Pepsi first announced their "Pepsi challange", some friends and
> > I did accept.  Our results were just the opposite as theirs.  3/2 
> > people prefered coke to pepsi.  Makes you wonder where Pepsi gets their
> > numbers from???
> 
> How many people took your test?  In order to broadcast their taste test
> commercials, I'm sure that Pepsi had to use a very large sample of the
> population - adding your results to the test would have only a negligible
> effect on the results.  You can also trust Pepsi's numbers - you can bet
> that Coke made every effort to verify them.
> 
> The question is not whether or not more people preferred Pepsi than Coke,
> but whether such a test is valid.  In such tests, people tend to prefer the 
> sweeter drink (Pepsi), while in the long run, this may not be the case.
> In my opinion, Coke made a major error by claiming that Sprite tastes better
> than 7-Up - effectively acknowledging that the taste test is valid.  Perhaps
> this was done with the introduction of the new, sweeter Coke in mind.
> (This still doesn't explain Bill Cosby's adds stating that he likes Coke
> because it wasn't as sweet as Pepsi.)  Anyway, Coke is now eating their
> words in more ways than one.  (And now Bill likes the sweeter taste better!)
> 
> 
>                              Jon Udell
> 
> 
> PS  Has anyone tried LIKE, from 7-Up?  It's the caffeine-free cola that
> started the trend.  I've never had any trouble getting it before (having 
> lived in Madison, WI - one of its test markets), but I haven't seen it
> yet here in Oregon.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> ---
> 
> 
>                           Jon Udell
> 
>               jonu@tekchips      until mid-September
>               --------------------------------------
>                          udell@shasta
>                         t.tedium@lotsb

Jon, I've tried LIKE form 7UP.  I think it's great...much better than
the New Coke and much, much better than Pepsi.


Frances Leason