AAPOR Letter to Civic Council
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February 8, 2010
Mr. Thomas Cromwell
Civic Council
Dear Mr. Cromwell:
I write on behalf of the American Association for Public Opinion
Research. We strongly object to your recent fundraising effort, the
so-called “Census of Senior Citizens,” and all other
fundraising your organization may do under the guise of research.
Genuine public opinion research never asks respondents to pay for their
participation. The object of legitimate research is simply to learn what
the public thinks. By contrast, your venture is designed to collect
funds under the pretense of measuring public opinion. You are
inappropriately using the good name of public opinion research to
further your own financial ends.
Further, labeling this pernicious project a “Census,”
sullies the reputation of the 2010 Census and may lead to lower
participation rates among those who receive your mailing.
We urge you in the strongest terms to stop your misleading
“Census” activity immediately and to find a method for
raising funds that is not disguised as a
“survey.”
Sincerely,
Peter V. Miller
President
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