"Carlson LaVonne" wrote in message
...
Fern,

The problems I find are in your understanding of research. There is
nothing wrong with the survey. Where do you have problems?

Here's what I put in the "comments" box of the survey:

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I have to wonder why the first question is worded the way it is. I see
three basic problems with it.



1) Something can be considered beneficial without being considered truly
necessary. For example, I regard a chainsaw as beneficial in cutting down a
tree, but the same job could be done (albeit not as quickly) using an axe or
an old-fashioned muscle-powered saw. Similarly, people can view spanking as
the best way to deal with certain types of behavior problems without viewing
spanking as truly necessary to deal with those types of problems. Thus, to
whatever extent respondents draw a distinction between useful and necessary,
the question as worded could easily result in answers that under-represent
the percentage who view spanking as useful.



2) The words "a child" could, at least potentially, be interpreted in
dramatically different ways. People might interpret the question in terms
of "every child," in which case the existence of a handful of children for
whom spanking is not necessary would make the answer that spanking is not
necessary even if they consider spanking necessary for most children. They
might interpret it in terms of "some such children exist," in which case the
existence of a handful of children for whom spanking is necessary would make
the answer yes even if they do not consider spanking necessary for most
children. They might picture what they think of as an "average" or
"typical" child, ignoring both extremes. Or they might focus on their own
children, or on themselves in children, in which case personalities of
particular children (among other family-specific factors) would affect their
responses. It would be better if the question were worded in a way that
left less potential for different interpretations, or perhaps even if the
question were asked in a way that tried to capture nuances such as whether a
person believes that spanking would be necessary or beneficial for all,
most, many, some, a few, or no children. (If I were doing it, I would
likely split the question into two all/most/. format questions, one using
"beneficial" and a second using "necessary.")



3) The words "good hard" in the first question seem a bit loaded and
prejudicial - or as if they are based on a particular stereotype that not
everyone who supports spanking agrees with. Consider the situation of an
adult who grew up getting "good hard spankings" consisting of ten or twenty
hard licks with some kind of implement, possibly leaving welts or bruises at
times, and who thinks spankings can sometimes be necessary or useful but
doesn't think spankings need to be nearly as hard as what he or she got. It
seems entirely plausible that there are people who consider "moderate"
spankings useful or perhaps even necessary in some situations but who view
what they think of as "good hard" ones as excessive. (My own view is that
how appropriate or inappropriate a "good hard" spanking is depends on the
seriousness of a child's misbehavior. Spanking a ten-year-old hard for
shoplifting is one thing, but spanking a five-year-old hard for "being
careless" and spilling a glass of milk is something else entirely.)



I would also note that this survey, like every other piece of research I
remember seeing on the subject of spanking (not that I've seen anywhere near
all of it), explores only the number of actual spankings given, not the
degree to which the threat or recognized possibility of spankings exists.
In my case, around the time I was 13, I was still very definitely regarded
as eligible for spankings. But because I generally tried to behave well
enough to stay out of trouble (partly because I didn't want to be punished
and partly for other reasons), and because my parents did not expect
perfection, actual spankings were extremely rare by the time I reached that
age. Thus, the influence of spanking's role in my family was completely out
of proportion to my best guess at how many spankings I actually got.
Surveys such as this one completely miss the possibility that the threat or
recognized possibility of spanking can play a major role in parents'
disciplinary strategies in families where actual spankings are rare.