Redshift space distortions on large scales can be used to measure the linear growth rate parameter f \approx \Omega ^ { 0.6 } / b .
I report here measurements of such distortions in the IRAS 2 Jy , 1.2 Jy , and QDOT redshift surveys , finding f = 0.69 ^ { + .21 } _ { - .19 } from a merged QDOT plus 1.2 Jy catalogue .
Unfortunately , confidence in this result is undermined by a marked ( 4 \sigma ) change in the pattern of clustering in QDOT beyond about 80 h ^ { -1 } { Mpc } .
A similar effect may be present at a mild level in the 1.2 Jy survey .
The effect may be caused by systematic variation in the effective flux limit of the IRAS PSC over the sky , with a dispersion of \sim 0.1 Jy on scales \sim 7 ^ { \circ } .
If so , then the value of f inferred from redshift distortions in IRAS surveys may be systematically underestimated .