Re: [dow1tf] Revised Final Questionnaire

["Milton Mueller" <mueller@xxxxxxx>]

Jeff:

I still have a problem with Questions 8, and 9. As I pointed out before, 
many respondents will have an obvious conflict of interest that 
would lead them to answer that question in a way that
would reflect their own policy bias rather than the truth.

Look I don't want to pull rank here but I'm the only social scientist 
on this committee. We have about 90 years of experience with 
survey research, and volumes of scientific literature on how to do 
these things right. This survey is being sent to a small number of 
people, most of whom are fairly sophisticated about both 
their use of whois data and the politics surrounding it. Asking them 
whether they would "be able to use any other source" is nothing more 
than fishing for a No answer from anyone who wants to retain the 
status quo. Most respondents will know full well that if they say "Yes, 
I can get it elsewhere" they are increases their chances of losing access 
via port 43. That kind of a manipulated result is something I don't want 
to be associated with.

On Q8 we should just ask them what other source they would use. 
This is especially applicable to law enforcement. LEAs can use subpeonas, 
bulk access and other mechanisms - perhaps more expensive, slower, less 
convenient, but there ARE other mechanisms, and it's important to know 
how expensive and inconvenient the alternatives are 
rather than letting them pretend that there are no alternatives. 

On Q9, we need to eliminate option "c) No other way to get the needed data"

Please let's do this right. 

>>> "Neuman, Jeff" <Jeff.Neuman@xxxxxxxxxx> 01/22/04 09:47PM >>>
All,

Enclosed is a revised draft of the questionnaire.

Please review this draft as soon as possible.  Once the text is approved, we
can then prepare the format for distribution to the nonmarketing contacts.

Thanks for all your help.

 <<whois-tf1-survey3.DOC>> 

Jeffrey J. Neuman, Esq. 
Director, Law & Policy 
NeuStar, Inc. 
Loudoun Tech Center 
46000 Center Oak Plaza 
Building X 
Sterling, VA 20166 
p: (571) 434-5772 
f: (571) 434-5735 
e-mail: Jeff.Neuman@xxxxxxxxxx