'All those in favour': computerised trade union membership lists as sampling frames for postal surveys.

The article states that the computerization of membership lists offers considerable scope for postal surveys of trade unionists in England. Computerisation is now widespread and trade unions, like many modern organisations, have computerised their membership lists as an aid to administrative efficiency. Partly in response to the need to ensure comprehensive ballotting of members, partly because of the relative low cost of modern computer technology, and partly through a desire not to appear very old fashioned and unprofessional compared with employers, for example, trade unions have computerised much of their administration. The membership research departments of 16 trade unions were represented at a seminar held in Ruskin College, Oxford in July, 1983, and described the many difficulties inherent in computerisation and the dangers of assuming it necessarily results in greater accuracy. A qualitative in-depth study carried out for the union had identified major problems suffered by union members living on low pay. On investigation, it became clear that the lists were far from perfect and to treat them as such would be to misinterpret the response rate and overestimate the numbers of refusals.