>On Fri, 8 Dec 2000, John A. Viator wrote:
>
>> When conducting question and answer sessions for large audiences,
>> why do speakers often try to distribute their attention (pick
>> questioners) randomly?
>
>If one chooses questioners according to location or in some ordered
>sequence, it is not purely random, and it is therefore perceived as
>biased.
>Fred Foldvary
Not true. If the audience is randomly distributed, then even a
sequential selection of questioners gives everyone an equal chance of
being chosen. I admit that it would appear biased, which is
important to the audience, but from a purely rational viewpoint, is
it helpful to choose from different parts of the audience?
John
--
John A. Viator, Ph.D.
Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinlic
1002 Health Sciences Road East
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA 92612
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Phone: 949-824-3754
Fax: 949-824-8413
