Klarinet Archive - Posting 000307.txt from 1999/02

From: "Steven J Goldman, MD" <gpsc@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Women and orchestras
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 00:35:12 -0500

I see where you were coming from now.

We are in complete agreement.

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Arnold Teres [mailto:johnathant@-----.com]
Subject: [kl] Women and orchestras

Steven J Goldman, MD wrote:
<...It's a Rube Goldberg setup (anyone remember what that referred to?). It
debases the idea of blind auditions and makes the attempt to remove bias
appear dumb. Think before you suggest something like this...>

Now, Now, let's not get too upset at what is simply an example of what a
double blind audition would be. First of all, I remember Rube Goldberg very
well. Second, If you read carefully you will see that TWICE I state that
this is simply an example and NOBODY would ever do it. I also point out that
it would NOT WORK!!! I was simply describing what a double blind audition
would have to be and if you think that such a concept is just plain stupid
and pointless guess what - I agree.
The example I gave was simply an attempt to explain what lengths you have to
go to if you want to remove bias from experimental design. If you feel that
I am incorrect in my description of what a double blind audition would be
then post a better example.
The point I am trying to make is that the bias of design is VERY different
than the bias of judgment. You can go to great lengths to eliminate design
bias but if the judges are not fair then no matter what you do you do not
get a fair outcome. Simply put, you can design until hell freezes over but
if the interpreter is biased you can't get a fair result. Remember that the
original premise was that judges at auditions could tell whether a candidate
was male, female, or whatever by simply hearing the candidate's performance.
This is a pretty thin premise, to be sure, but my point is that if this is
true you can NOT eliminate the bias no matter what level of "blindness" you
introduce.
If you want a fair audition, or study of any kind, you need to base
decisions on fair and objective evaluations.

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