I used to work for a very large survey company. They conduct
phone surveys, mail surveys, in-person surveys, and they gather
data automatically using various gadgets, apps, and plug-ins.
They gather all the data they can from as many sources as they
can.  Let’s say you’re sitting at home one day and you get a
call from this reputable survey company. They’d like to chat
with you for a moment [3-5 minutes] about your thoughts on
popular TV shows. You pour your heart out regarding Little
Chocolatiers and Property Virgins. (If this were a written
survey, you’d be given a full blank page to communicate these
strong feelings you have about entertainment programs.) You then
answer a few quick demographic questions—your age, race,
education level, household income, the usual—and are thanked for
helping the TV industry find out what you, the viewer, think
about their offerings.  At this point you could reasonably
assume that the survey was about the quality and direction of
current TV shows. Of course, you also disclo