We recently received a note from the United States Professional Sales Organization (UPSA), an organization hitherto unknown to us. It says, in part:
Dear UPSA Member:
First of all, to those who have participated in the recent PhD survey — thank you!
We have no way of knowing who you are to exclude you from this follow- up, so, pardon the intrusion. Second, we have a situation where only one third of those who have viewed the survey have actually completed it. We agree the questions are about a “touchy” subject; but, hopefully you will understand that is exactly why we are assisting the student in gathering the data — so we can provide facts, not fiction.
Here is one of the survey questions:
The “ethics code” serves as window dressing only in the organization.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Somewhat Agree
Neutral
Somewhat Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
We have questions of our own. Here are two of them:
1. Is it ethical to send messages to strangers and pretend that these strangers are members of your organization?
2. Is it ethical to ask strangers to fill out a lengthy survey that serves as window dressing for your organization?