RON MCDERMOTT spoke of WHOLE LANGUAGE 2      2/2 to DAN TRIPLETT on 09-
13-96
RM> Simply collecting raw data and drawing conclusions
RM>is meaningless:
Meaningless?  It has no value?  It can tell us nothing?  
RM>Birth rate is higher where storks are found flying...
RM>People live longer in the USA than in many other countries..
RM>There are more asians than any other ethnic group...
RM>Population density is highest around oceans...
RM>What do you conclude from the above (btw, I think these are
RM>all correct)?  My point is that you can conclude any
RM>NUMBER of things from this collection of raw and unstructured
RM>data, and not have the SLIGHTEST assurance than your
RM>conclusions are worth the air required to give them voice...
Just because some studies or "data collecting" may not yield meaningful 
information doesn't mean that all data collecting is meaningless.  If 
done properly and systematically the data can be very useful.  It's easy 
to cite an absurd example to make a point.  No one can argue that to 
make conclusions on the above "facts" is unscientific.  I'm not talking 
about this kind of data anyway.  I think you must know there is a 
difference between fact finding and research.
Dan
CMPQwk 1.42 445p
... I still have a full deck; I just shuffle slower now.
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