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Originally Posted by Red__Zed
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I see what you mean. But sampling is not meant to give exacts anyway, but an idea. At least you get a small society of people in your situation. You take it as a general guide. it's like polls in politics. They give you a general idea, as long as they aren't rigged. But they don't determine who will be the next president.
Nielsen ratings cancelled many a good show based on sampling. I know where you're coming from. But car samples, though you can't get biblical with them, do hold some type of value. at least an 1/8 value to your total research. The forum is a sample bias as well... But i won't negate it as a 1/8 soursce as well.
The problem with corporate sponsored ratings sytem like CR vs Edmunds is that CR may declare unreliability due to a sample set of minor TSB issues vs independents who look for things that the common public consider substantial issues. Long term tests from 8 magazines would be sample testing. C&D brake failure... Sample test. Everything is a sample test in media.