Hi Jacquie and All. One thing that must be understood is what the purpose of the Focus groups was. Their purpose was to test questions that were to be used in the wider scope poll of the public. As a result of the focus groups, Statistics Canada modified some of the original questions, and added some others. What I want to know is what were the questions asked of the participants in the focus group, and in what order were they asked. I wish to know the same of the public opinion poll which, I understand contacted 2000 people across Canada. There may have been two sessions of the public opinion poll which, totalling 4000 people is still thousands less than have written letters and signed petitions urging access to Historic Census records. Questions asked, and the manner in which they are asked, can greatly influence the answers of respondents. This is evidenced in the opening questions in the report indicating that most participants in the focus groups had never heard of the census issue, and that to start they thought it acceptable that their personal information might be released after a time delay of about 100 years. By the end of the report, however, after being fed mis-information regarding mis-interpreted legislation and unproved "promises" of confidentiality and moral issues the survey reports that "most" participants were giving answers that basically supported the position of Statistics Canada. There is no question that the way focus groups are handled, in the questions asked and the manner in which they are asked, the participants can be manipulated to give a desired response. The participants in these focus groups knew nothing about the mis-interpreted legislation or of any supposed "promises" until those handling the focus groups told them about it. On another subject. On my return home this afternoon the was a message on my service from the National Post. They were seeking confirmation of my letter to the editor so that they could print it. Please let me know if it shows up in the next several days. Happy Hunting Gordon ----- Original Message ----- From: jacquie <jacnex@home.com> To: <CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, 23 June, 2000 11:00 AM Subject: Re: [CCC-L] Report of Census Survey Focus Groups Hi Everyone, I may be mistaken, but for statisical purposes don't you need at least 1 000 people polled. 72 people means nothing. I think we must, as Gordon has said, be polite at all times and with a smile on our faces quietly and with firmness demand that the debate on the census be with FACTS and not illogic and fear. We have facts and logic on our side let us continue to use them. At the very least guys the politicians may just decide to shut us up and release the census, with the promise that we will leave them alone : ))) Well I am off to do more research as we all await the Expert Panel Report. Jacquie Nex