From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhtsa!alice!npoiv!hou5f!hou5b!hou5c!hou5e!jjm
Newsgroups: net.tv
Title: Re: Neilson Query
Article-I.D.: hou5e.299
Posted: Tue Mar 22 10:11:15 1983
Received: Wed Mar 23 07:15:53 1983
References: hou5e.298


	Contrary to a previous comment, the Neilson Ratings are not
	based on a "random" selection of homes.

	As you statistics fiends will know, in order to have a
	"statistically significant" sample of a population as
	large as the United States, you need to randomly select
	a very large number (a hundred thousand?) of Americans
	as a representative sample.

	However, the A. C. Neilson Company "scientifically selects"
	a smaller sample.  These homes are carefully selected so that
	a smaller sample will represent the entire viewing public.
	Neilson bases their ratings on a few hundred homes.

	I say, BULLSHIRT!  I can see no way to justify this method.
	How many "black" families are there in the ratings? A dozen?
	How can a handful of people represent such a large population?
	Is there one well-educated black family, and one poor black family,
	and one city black family and one country black family?  What about
	blacks that like science fiction?  Or ballet?  Or any other
	special interest group liking any special entertainment form?

	You end up with "The Jeffersons" and "Dukes of Hazzard" and
	garbage like that.  What can you do?

	1) Write to the producers.  See if they can read.

	2) Build a nuclear device and threaten to blow up A.C.Neilson.

	3) Buy a videotape machine and watch what you want, when you want.

	Jim McParland
	American Bell - Holmdel
	hou5e!jjm