Poll

Comment from Jesse Melton, (11/21/2016, 9:53 AM)

The available survey responses are not valid as there's no like-for-like comparison. One response (Yes) is derived entirely from within the poll question. The (No) response encompasses information in the poll question AND adds to it with a predefined solution with no origin in the question. You can't do that if meaningful responses are desired as the responses are not directly comparable. Both responses must have a predefined solution or neither can have a predefined solution. Otherwise you can't know what element(s) respondents used to weight their decision making process. Reformat the question and/or available responses and present the survey again. Only then can meaningful data be created.

Comment from Sheldon Wolfe, (11/21/2016, 9:14 PM)

Like most of the poll questions, the options leave little choice but to choose an answer that is unsatisfactory. In this case, for example, the regulations may be understandable but still would benefit from simplification. As they evolve, it is likely they will become more complicated and harder to understand.

Comment from Jesse Melton, (11/22/2016, 7:30 AM)

Not answering is always an option :) A really important part of this; is who was this survey for? Right now the respondents are 17% in favor of simplifying the rules and 83% think the rules are understandable. That's unnaturally uneven which potentially creates an entirely new safety problem. Statistical validity has no bearing on things like admissibility in court. It's the other guy's problem to argue the information isn't solid. A primary contractor's defense lawyer can make a big mess with lopsided information like this. In high liability publishing a courtroom style decision making process is often used to determine if a book proposal is worth moving forward with. It would suck if a potentially useful resource didn't go to market because the results of this survey were used as part of the argument to undermine the need for such a resource. D+D bills themselves as targeting career tradespeople and has some responsibility in ensuring they aren't muddying the water with wonky data.

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