This unscientific study involved three people (including myself) who listen to music daily in a variety of formats, from FM radio to CD.

The house seemed somewhat less than 95 percent full on Wednesday evening, but an unscientific study (a look around and some random eavesdropping) suggested that in terms of age and concertgoing experience, the audience was similar to that in the Philharmonic's data.

Yet above a certain volume level, say 120 decibels, further amplification registers on the ear only as distortion, pain and hearing damage, and my unscientific studies have convinced me that that level is exceeded most of the time.

An unscientific study shows that Mr. Ferrer wears dark socks.

Richard Kendall of the Society for American Baseball Research devised an unscientific study that ranked Killefer as the most dominating fielding catcher in major league history.

In an unscientific study conducted late one recent afternoon, it was discovered that if one walks with two dogs across a level 60-acre Wyoming pasture, one kicks up a gross of grasshoppers with every step, never mind what the dogs dislodge.

An utterly unscientific study of the impact of pro-environmental programs on young people - a half-dozen interviews with elementary school students - suggests that they do learn something, although subtleties may escape them.

This unscientific study also found that men are better tippers than women and keep their rooms cleaner and cooler.

Here is an unscientific study on what New Jersey does with its B.Y.O.B. freedom and how B.Y.O.B. restaurateurs respond.

For so long, of course, Mr. Kerry did not, and to see him on the stump these days is to conduct an unscientific but revealing study in candidate development and crowd psychology.