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