True -- though I don't think the problem is with response rate -- The data come
from the National NAEP exam, the data points represent the average state math
score and the replies to a survey that I presume was administered to all
students taking the test -- since it is a part of the same database.

A more interesting vorrelation here is the negative correlation between the % of
students with a positive attitude toward mathmatics and the math scores  -- it's
strongly negative.

Perhaps that's that's because students who are not taught difficult math really
like.

"Carl W." wrote:

> "Gary Klass" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> > http://lilt.ilstu.edu/gmklass/COW/
>
> Does this prove that TV makes you bad at math or that if you're bad at math
> you tend to watch more TV?
>
> This is a bit like the fact that market researchers only glean information
> from people who are willing to take part in market research... Consider:
>
> What if a propensity to say 'Yes' to 'Do you want to take part in a survey?'
> would also make you like (say) Chocoloate Peanut Butter more?
>
> Given that a small number of people actually take part in market research,
> The Fictional Peanut Butter Corporation is going to start manufacturing
> Chocolate Peanut Butter based on their survey, and then find no (or not
> many) takers in the 'real world'.
>
> Beware statistics, and more importantly, anything based on market research
> or a survey.
>
> Okay, rant over,
> Carl



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