(1) In the 1970's the popular advice columnist Ann Landers published a letter from a young couple about to be married. The letter said, "so many of our friends seem to resent their children. They envy us and our freedom to go and come as we please. Then there's the matter of money. They
say their kids keep them broke. Will you please ask your readers the question: 'If you had it to do over again - would you have children?'"
Nearly 10,000 of her readers responded. 70% said "no."
(2) The Good Housekeeping magazine published the results of the poll with a sidebar that said, “All of us at Good Housekeeping know that no
mother will be able to read Ann Landers' report without passionately agreeing or disagreeing. We would like to know what your reaction is.
Won't you therefore, take a minute or two to let us know how you would answer the question: 'If you had it to do over again, would you have
children?'”
The results for the Good Housekeeping poll were 95% "yes."
These two polls gave opposite results! What is the best explanation for why the results conflict so dramatically?