I'm concerned about the PR story issued by the NSPCC today. According to them, a scandalous percentage of young girls are treated abominably by their teenage boyfriends and something must be done about it.
I'm all for surveys as part of a PR campaign. We've done loads of them in work as they can be, if they're good enough, a good way of positioning clients and highlighting the products or services they sell.
But this NSPCC story troubles me. Some of the numbers involved are shocking and, truth be told, hard to believe.
One in three girls under 18 say they've been bullied into sexual activity. Really? A quarter have been slapped, punched or worse by their boyfriend too. What? Apparently so....
It's tough to argue with the figures without seeing any data to counter the conclusions that have been drawn, but it sounds a little far fetched and, if the researchers have manipulated questions or responses to create such a scare story, they really need to take a look at themselves. The subject matter is far too sensitive to be spun for shock value and I suspect NSPCC has done itself a disservice by releasing the story in this way.
According to the study, one in 16 of those interviewed said they had been raped. By my calculations that's nearly 90 young girls who claimed to have suffered an appalling crime when asked by NSPCC's researchers. Given such persuasive interview techniques, perhaps the research team should be seconded to CID and asked to apprehend the culprits.
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Ear I Am readers, please do not click on the link in the above comment. It takes you to a site filled with complete misogynist tosh.
When I find out how to delete the comment I will.
I suppose that one way to find out whether this research has any rational basis would be to look at earlier reports and to see whether they report similar findings.
Alternatively, you could wait until Autumn 2009 to download the full report and then you might be able to see the questions that they asked the kids, and whether they were leading in your view (these aren't in the Executive Summary of the report unfortunately).
Then again, you could just dismiss it because it doesn't just sit right with you.
Cynicism is an important part of debate. Uninformed cynicism is simply mindless, boring drivel. Just what you'd expect from a PR professional.
I have nothing to do with the NSPCC or their partners in this research, the University of Bristol.
Jim - indeed, the routes you suggest would reveal more about the research. Unfortunately, the millions who heard this story on radio or read about it in national newspapers yesterday are even less likely than me to dig so far.
Instead, they are exposed only to the headlines - one in three girls aged 13-17 has been bullied into sexual activity. One is 16 claims rape.
On a different note I'm sorry you have such a dim view of the PR profession and the mindless, boring drivel it produces.
I might counter that by pointing out that a PR somewhere will have played a big part in bringing the NSPCC's story to the nation's attention - although that could just be uninformed cynicism on my part.
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