EKKLESIA: ICM poll commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, as part of the Power 2010 shows 70 per cent of Christians believe it is wrong for bishops to have reserved places in the House of Lords.
I’m so tired today of reading the so called “news” that a whopping 70 per cent of Christians believe it is wrong for bishops to have reserved places in the House of Lords.
This is all based on an ICM poll commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, as part of the Power 2010 initiative for reform of the second chamber in parliament.
Ekkleisa are jumping up and down over this “news” and so is Polly Toynbee (President of the British Humanist Association) over at the Guardian.
I have just noticed that the sample used for this “poll” would appear to be around the 1000 mark, which is a paltry, and statistically unsound as a representation of the entire Christian communities view on this subject. I am also under the impression that the 1000 adults polled are not all Christians anyway. I am open to correction on these assertions and will post corrections if necessary, for the sake of transparency and honesty.
If this be the case, then it reminds me of the many face cream adverts on TV, in which it is touted that 70% of users felt they looked younger, and yet when you look at the small print you notice the sample of women consulted is around 200.
Ekkelsia are also joyful that they have overwhelmed Bishops email systems with 52,000 emails, and I refer you to a previous post on this:-
If I am correct in my analysis, then the headlines drawn from this recent poll are more a political propaganda drive than true social science in action. To draw these conclusions and headlines from such a small sample, using the closed questionnaire method, is naive at best and unscrupulous at worst.
Further, 52,000 emails sent to the Bishops proves nothing, when the entire number of Christians within the UK is considered. Also, what percentage of those sending emails did so as prompted by the British Humanist Association and other anti-Christian groups?
UPDATE: the British Humanist Association has just posted on this, please observe carefully the wording used:-
large-scale public action and poll
large majority of people are opposed to having Bishops sit in the House of Lords as of right.
Andrew Copson, BHA Chief Executive, commented, ‘It is evident that the majority of people in the UK do not support the automatic right of Bishops to sit in the legislature of our country.
But here is the rub:
The poll questioned over 1000 people
Don’t the BHA and Ekklesia sound similar! Sometimes it appears as if Ekklesia are the BHA’s trojan horse.
Please also bear in mind that I have not even commented on the validity of the sample contacted, the use of the telephone interview, the dates used to conduct the interviews, the potential interviewer bias, the funding issue and the slant of the closed questions used etc.
Tags: Christianity, News, Politics
March 16th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
ICM is a professional, worldwide polling company which has to abide by industry standards in all its polling, and has a reputation to maintain. It is a founder member of the Bitish Polling Council.
The sample size is industry standard, and the methodology and weighting of the sample is listed clearly at the end of the results, as well as margin or error.
With the greatest respect, it does seem that either you (i) clearly haven’t looked into the methodology, or (ii) if you have, don’t understand it. You might wanto get in touch with ICM direct and put your allegations to them, though I hope you aren’t hit with a libel action if they read this blog!
March 16th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
With all due respect Jonathan, it would seem that you have entirely missed my point. My problem is not with the poll or the ICM methodology, but with your headlines and conclusions and the sweeping statements you have made based on this poll.
For Example:
Poll says most Christians want bishops to reform, not ‘lord it’ in the House
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/11514
In terms of “Libel” I shall take my chances and not be cowed with threats of this nature when I choose to critique your organisation or any other.