Comments for Tangents http://www.delexical.com/tangents Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:31:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Perception & Reality in the Iona Institute’s talking points by paub http://www.delexical.com/tangents/2011/11/28/perception-reality-in-the-iona-institutes-talking-points/comment-page-1/#comment-810 paub Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:31:40 +0000 http://www.delexical.com/tangents/?p=350#comment-810 Excellent piece Ronan, It is clear that there is a concerted effort to use these research findings until they become accepted as "fact". Ronan Mullen yesterday managed to make it seem as if the survey was some random piece of science that happened to coincidentally land in our midst. I'm waiting for the appearance of Patricia Casey at some stage later today . There are other examples of research/statistical sleights of hand in their 12 page report. 1. Lack of clarity in coding: Taking coded results and presenting them as simple chart headings can give carte blanche for a wide range of interpretations of the actual responses. In the coding of open-ended responses, how was e.g. "child abuse" defined and differentiated from "loss of trust" or "cover ups"- if I responded that I have a less than favourable view of the RCC due to their cover up of abuse and their attitudes to the LGBT community, how would this response be coded? 2. Directional questions: "Despite the scandals, Catholic teachings are still of benefit to Irish society". Peter McVerry or Opus Dei, etc. "I would be happy if the Catholic Church disappeared from Ireland completely". Churches, schools and hospitals physically removed or their influence in education policy, etc. "I believe the Government is excessively hostile towards the Catholic Church". Eamon Gilmore or Eamon O'Cuiv? Even with all the raw data available on these questions, I am unsure as to how any extrapolation can be made in any meaningful manner. The report's statement "Although attitudes are generally unfavourable towards the Catholic Church in Ireland right now, it is clear that only a minority would welcome its disappearance from Ireland" is simply not credible. 3. Incorrect or misleading data interpretation: If there was a genuine interest in gauging mass attendance, respondents would have been given the option of indicating that their last attendance at mass was to attend a sacrament (wedding, communion, confirmation, funeral). Even if we ignore this, the fact that I had attended a funeral in the month of the survey, would have meant that I was included in this cohort: "Just under half of all Catholics attend Mass on a weekly or monthly basis". Sorry for the long and rambling post. I work in social research and am pretty familiar with such methodological twists and turns. I hate to see research so brazenly misused and misappropriated. Excellent piece Ronan,
It is clear that there is a concerted effort to use these research findings until they become accepted as “fact”. Ronan Mullen yesterday managed to make it seem as if the survey was some random piece of science that happened to coincidentally land in our midst. I’m waiting for the appearance of Patricia Casey at some stage later today .

There are other examples of research/statistical sleights of hand in their 12 page report.

1. Lack of clarity in coding:
Taking coded results and presenting them as simple chart headings can give carte blanche for a wide range of interpretations of the actual responses. In the coding of open-ended responses, how was e.g. “child abuse” defined and differentiated from “loss of trust” or “cover ups”- if I responded that I have a less than favourable view of the RCC due to their cover up of abuse and their attitudes to the LGBT community, how would this response be coded?

2. Directional questions:
“Despite the scandals, Catholic teachings are still of benefit to Irish society”.
Peter McVerry or Opus Dei, etc.
“I would be happy if the Catholic Church disappeared from Ireland completely”.
Churches, schools and hospitals physically removed or their influence in education policy, etc.
“I believe the Government is excessively hostile towards the Catholic Church”.
Eamon Gilmore or Eamon O’Cuiv?
Even with all the raw data available on these questions, I am unsure as to how any extrapolation can be made in any meaningful manner. The report’s statement “Although attitudes are generally unfavourable towards the Catholic Church in Ireland right now, it is clear that only a minority would welcome its disappearance from Ireland” is simply not credible.

3. Incorrect or misleading data interpretation:
If there was a genuine interest in gauging mass attendance, respondents would have been given the option of indicating that their last attendance at mass was to attend a sacrament (wedding, communion, confirmation, funeral). Even if we ignore this, the fact that I had attended a funeral in the month of the survey, would have meant that I was included in this cohort: “Just under half of all Catholics attend Mass on a weekly or monthly basis”.

Sorry for the long and rambling post. I work in social research and am pretty familiar with such methodological twists and turns. I hate to see research so brazenly misused and misappropriated.

]]> Comment on Quick Thoughts on Egypt by Ronan http://www.delexical.com/tangents/2011/01/30/quick-thoughts-on-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-455 Ronan Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:03:29 +0000 http://www.delexical.com/tangents/?p=225#comment-455 On the single issue of succession alone there was increase in tension and massive speculation and has been for a while from what I was reading online. That was all over the place a few months back when Gamal's face started appearing (inexplicably of course...) on posters up poles around Cairo while El Baradei was making noises about contesting elections. There was going to be demonstrations around elections and a crackdown, it was likely to be extensive especially if El Baradei was allowed compete (which was highly unlikely) but gerrymandered out of it in favour of Gamal. Those demonstrations may not have brought down the regime but they were bound to be really serious. There's also been a lot of anti-police rhetoric over the last few months over police brutality and torture too. Without a spark like such an election or Mubarak's death then yes it would have remained relatively placid looking but given the soup of discontent it's bizarre that so many pundits said "Oh it couldn't happen in Egypt". If anywhere I would've expected it in Egypt, I would've thought something along the lines of Iran's Green revolution was highly likely, if not more so than in Iran. Tunisia just convinced enough people to join that cohort willing to go on the streets, and gave them an opening so they put a date on it. Tuesday through Friday further convinced enough people to make it stick. But even without Tunisia, without a cheated El Baradei in an election or some other spark and everything else remaining equal, Mubarak's 82 and will die; there was bound to be a blow-up of anti-regime rage, and soon. On the single issue of succession alone there was increase in tension and massive speculation and has been for a while from what I was reading online. That was all over the place a few months back when Gamal’s face started appearing (inexplicably of course…) on posters up poles around Cairo while El Baradei was making noises about contesting elections. There was going to be demonstrations around elections and a crackdown, it was likely to be extensive especially if El Baradei was allowed compete (which was highly unlikely) but gerrymandered out of it in favour of Gamal. Those demonstrations may not have brought down the regime but they were bound to be really serious. There’s also been a lot of anti-police rhetoric over the last few months over police brutality and torture too. Without a spark like such an election or Mubarak’s death then yes it would have remained relatively placid looking but given the soup of discontent it’s bizarre that so many pundits said “Oh it couldn’t happen in Egypt”. If anywhere I would’ve expected it in Egypt, I would’ve thought something along the lines of Iran’s Green revolution was highly likely, if not more so than in Iran. Tunisia just convinced enough people to join that cohort willing to go on the streets, and gave them an opening so they put a date on it. Tuesday through Friday further convinced enough people to make it stick. But even without Tunisia, without a cheated El Baradei in an election or some other spark and everything else remaining equal, Mubarak’s 82 and will die; there was bound to be a blow-up of anti-regime rage, and soon.

]]> Comment on Quick Thoughts on Egypt by Aidan http://www.delexical.com/tangents/2011/01/30/quick-thoughts-on-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-454 Aidan Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:40:41 +0000 http://www.delexical.com/tangents/?p=225#comment-454 It's easy to say that what's happening right now was "very much anticipated" now that it's a concrete reality. Personally though, I don't think it was any more expected than the collapse of the Soviet Union was. I believe it's more honest to say that what's going on in Egypt now is something rather unprecedented, which cannot yet be fitted into any narrative that we're used to. The most positive thing about current events in Egypt for me is that the Egyptian people en masse and without any structured leadership appear to have rejected the old narrative according to which Arab states are either ruled by religious fundamentalists or military strongmen. I can only hope that they will continue to utterly ignore the instructions being given to them by the Old Regime and West. The Arabs need to feel that they own their own countries. It’s easy to say that what’s happening right now was “very much anticipated” now that it’s a concrete reality. Personally though, I don’t think it was any more expected than the collapse of the Soviet Union was. I believe it’s more honest to say that what’s going on in Egypt now is something rather unprecedented, which cannot yet be fitted into any narrative that we’re used to.

The most positive thing about current events in Egypt for me is that the Egyptian people en masse and without any structured leadership appear to have rejected the old narrative according to which Arab states are either ruled by religious fundamentalists or military strongmen. I can only hope that they will continue to utterly ignore the instructions being given to them by the Old Regime and West. The Arabs need to feel that they own their own countries.

]]> Comment on Why.. by Colm http://www.delexical.com/tangents/2008/10/31/why/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Colm Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:03:36 +0000 http://www.delexical.com/tangents/?p=99#comment-15 Hey just saw that I'm a person you both know and like. I was touched. Thanks for the link loving. Hey just saw that I’m a person you both know and like. I was touched. Thanks for the link loving.

]]> Comment on Parsing the Radio Drama by Websites tagged "radiolabs" on Postsaver http://www.delexical.com/tangents/2008/08/27/parsing-the-radio-drama/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Websites tagged "radiolabs" on Postsaver Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:17:40 +0000 http://www.delexical.com/tangents/?p=61#comment-14 [...] - Parsing the Radio Drama saved by kdillin2008-10-11 - Popping the radio saved by maesk2008-10-06 - Radio Labs saved by [...] [...] – Parsing the Radio Drama saved by kdillin2008-10-11 – Popping the radio saved by maesk2008-10-06 – Radio Labs saved by [...]

]]> Comment on Welcome to the Titans league, Mega Financial Holding Co. Ltd by Brendan http://www.delexical.com/tangents/2008/09/15/welcom-to-the-titans-league-mega-financial-holding-co-ltd/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Brendan Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:04:10 +0000 http://www.delexical.com/tangents/?p=87#comment-4 Just wait for until the trend reaches its ultimate conclusion with the "Dow Jones Super Happy Mega Index of Fun Financials Awesome Time!" Personally I can't wait! Just wait for until the trend reaches its ultimate conclusion with the “Dow Jones Super Happy Mega Index of Fun Financials Awesome Time!”

Personally I can’t wait!

]]>