How to conduct a sample survey - AP Statistics
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Shawn would like to determine what the most popular television channel is in his town, called Hearne.
Which of the following would be an appropriate target population for the survey?
Shawn would like to determine what the most popular television channel is in his town, called Hearne.
Which of the following would be an appropriate target population for the survey?
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Since Shawn would like to know the most popular television channel in his town, he must include all residents of the town in his target population. The sample must come from the directory and each person in the directory should have an equal chance of being selected. The incorrect options are too narrowly focused and are not representative of the town.
Since Shawn would like to know the most popular television channel in his town, he must include all residents of the town in his target population. The sample must come from the directory and each person in the directory should have an equal chance of being selected. The incorrect options are too narrowly focused and are not representative of the town.
Which of the following is the best way to ensure a sample is representative and unbiased?
Which of the following is the best way to ensure a sample is representative and unbiased?
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Taking a random sample is the only data-collecting method that ensures that every set of individuals has an equal chance of being selected for the sample and does not introduce any significant bias. Taking either a voluntary response sample or a convenience sample does not ensure these important aspects, as there is some unwanted selectivity involved in the data being collected. Taking a census is inferior to taking a sample of any sort, as it is both costly and time-consuming.
Taking a random sample is the only data-collecting method that ensures that every set of individuals has an equal chance of being selected for the sample and does not introduce any significant bias. Taking either a voluntary response sample or a convenience sample does not ensure these important aspects, as there is some unwanted selectivity involved in the data being collected. Taking a census is inferior to taking a sample of any sort, as it is both costly and time-consuming.
Which of the following is a continuous variable?
i. The average weight of a newborn puppy
ii. The number of snow days during the last month
iii. The amount of time that it takes to read a book
Which of the following is a continuous variable?
i. The average weight of a newborn puppy
ii. The number of snow days during the last month
iii. The amount of time that it takes to read a book
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A continuous variable can take on an infinite continuum of possible real number values. Weight and the amount of time to read a book are continuous because it is impossible to write down all the distinct potential values.
A continuous variable can take on an infinite continuum of possible real number values. Weight and the amount of time to read a book are continuous because it is impossible to write down all the distinct potential values.
For which of these is a binomial probability model most reasonable?
For which of these is a binomial probability model most reasonable?
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A binomial model counts the number of successes out of a specific number of attempts at a task when each attempt has a constant probability of success. The correct choice is the one that specifies the number of attempts.
A binomial model counts the number of successes out of a specific number of attempts at a task when each attempt has a constant probability of success. The correct choice is the one that specifies the number of attempts.
A company asks you to conduct a survey to discover what consumers generally want. What should the survey population be?
A company asks you to conduct a survey to discover what consumers generally want. What should the survey population be?
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The company wants a survey on what consumers want. That means they are interested in all possible consumers. The other groups are too specific.
The company wants a survey on what consumers want. That means they are interested in all possible consumers. The other groups are too specific.
Your AP Statistics teacher asks you to conduct a survey to determine the most popular cereal brand at your high school. Which of the following should be the survey population in your study?
Your AP Statistics teacher asks you to conduct a survey to determine the most popular cereal brand at your high school. Which of the following should be the survey population in your study?
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Since your teacher has asked that you determine the most popular cereal brand at your high school, the survey population should be limited to only your high school. Other students' preferences of cereal brands around the nation will have no impact on the survey results.
Additionally, surveying only students in your AP Statistics class or only students in a particular grade level would not be representative of all students in your high school. Therefore, the correct survey population is all students in your high school.
Since your teacher has asked that you determine the most popular cereal brand at your high school, the survey population should be limited to only your high school. Other students' preferences of cereal brands around the nation will have no impact on the survey results.
Additionally, surveying only students in your AP Statistics class or only students in a particular grade level would not be representative of all students in your high school. Therefore, the correct survey population is all students in your high school.
John would like to find out what percentage of residents in his neighborhood enjoy shopping. Which of the following is the best method to randomly select participants to take John's survey?
John would like to find out what percentage of residents in his neighborhood enjoy shopping. Which of the following is the best method to randomly select participants to take John's survey?
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The best answer is the choice that reduces the amount of bias in the selection of survey participants. Surveying local residents at a grocery store, neighborhood park, or shopping mall would introduce selection bias into the survey since every member of the target population does not have an equal chance of being selected. Using the random number generator, every single person in the neighborhood has an equal chance of being selected to take the survey.
The best answer is the choice that reduces the amount of bias in the selection of survey participants. Surveying local residents at a grocery store, neighborhood park, or shopping mall would introduce selection bias into the survey since every member of the target population does not have an equal chance of being selected. Using the random number generator, every single person in the neighborhood has an equal chance of being selected to take the survey.
A researcherer wants to study the effectiveness of a certain curriculum program on kids' math scores, so she wants to implement the curriculum with kids in grades 2 to 4 to see if their scores significantly improve. To do so, she wants to try Random Cluster Sampling. How can she do this?
A researcherer wants to study the effectiveness of a certain curriculum program on kids' math scores, so she wants to implement the curriculum with kids in grades 2 to 4 to see if their scores significantly improve. To do so, she wants to try Random Cluster Sampling. How can she do this?
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Random sampling is a method in which every individual has an equal opportunity of being randomly chosen to participate in a study.
Cluster random sampling entails choosing from pre-formed "clusters"-- such as schools or hospitals-- and randomly selecting one of the clusters.
Random sampling is a method in which every individual has an equal opportunity of being randomly chosen to participate in a study.
Cluster random sampling entails choosing from pre-formed "clusters"-- such as schools or hospitals-- and randomly selecting one of the clusters.
Kevin would like to find out what type of car is the most popular among residents in his neighborhood. There are 25 streets in his neighborhood and each street has approximately 12 houses on it. He would like to survey at least 120 houses before making a conclusion.
Which of the following is an example of random cluster sampling in Kevin's neighborhood?
Kevin would like to find out what type of car is the most popular among residents in his neighborhood. There are 25 streets in his neighborhood and each street has approximately 12 houses on it. He would like to survey at least 120 houses before making a conclusion.
Which of the following is an example of random cluster sampling in Kevin's neighborhood?
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In order for cluster sampling to be present, the entire population must be divided into homogeneous groups (known as clusters). For sampling purposes in this problem, clusters must be chosen as a simple random sample. There is only one answer choice that fits this pattern.
In order for cluster sampling to be present, the entire population must be divided into homogeneous groups (known as clusters). For sampling purposes in this problem, clusters must be chosen as a simple random sample. There is only one answer choice that fits this pattern.
Which of the following is an example of simple random sampling at a high school?
Which of the following is an example of simple random sampling at a high school?
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A simple random sample is obtained by randomly selecting individuals from a target population. Each individual in the target population (i.e. all students at the high school) should have an equal chance of being selected. Only one answer choice gives each high school student an equal chance of being selected: choosing 
students at random from the high school.
A simple random sample is obtained by randomly selecting individuals from a target population. Each individual in the target population (i.e. all students at the high school) should have an equal chance of being selected. Only one answer choice gives each high school student an equal chance of being selected: choosing
Identify the type of bias:
A researcher wants to know whether students at a particular university have ever cheated on a test. The researcher walks up to 100 random students and asks them the following question:
"Have you ever cheated on a test or exam?"
Identify the type of bias:
A researcher wants to know whether students at a particular university have ever cheated on a test. The researcher walks up to 100 random students and asks them the following question:
"Have you ever cheated on a test or exam?"
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Many people are reluctant to be honest about their bad behaviors, especially if they don't believe the survey is confidential. This will cause participants to be more likely to respond with whatever is more socially acceptable.
Many people are reluctant to be honest about their bad behaviors, especially if they don't believe the survey is confidential. This will cause participants to be more likely to respond with whatever is more socially acceptable.
A study testing the effect of caffeine on mental performance invited 
participants for an experiment. The participants were selected randomly. 
people were selected from men who did not drink coffee. 
were selected from women who did not drink cofee. 
were selected from men who regularly drank coffee, and 
from women who regularly drank coffee. What type of sampling method is this?
A study testing the effect of caffeine on mental performance invited
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Stratified Sampling is the method of randomly selecting subjects from various stratum, or subsets of the population. In this case, there were 4 stratum from which participants were randomly selected.
Stratified Sampling is the method of randomly selecting subjects from various stratum, or subsets of the population. In this case, there were 4 stratum from which participants were randomly selected.
Which of the following is an example of stratified random sampling when obtaining a sample of 
high school students?
Which of the following is an example of stratified random sampling when obtaining a sample of
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In order for there to be a stratified random sample, the target population must be split into different groups (i.e. grade levels). The sample population must be selected at random from each of these groups (i.e. choosing 
students from each of four different grade levels or groups). The other examples, although random, are not specifically stratified in their sampling methodology.
In order for there to be a stratified random sample, the target population must be split into different groups (i.e. grade levels). The sample population must be selected at random from each of these groups (i.e. choosing
To find the percentage of households in a town who own more than one motor vehicle, a survey will ask the next 100 drivers at a popular gas station if there is more than one motor vehicle in their household. Is this survey biased and if so, what is the main type of bias?
To find the percentage of households in a town who own more than one motor vehicle, a survey will ask the next 100 drivers at a popular gas station if there is more than one motor vehicle in their household. Is this survey biased and if so, what is the main type of bias?
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Because the survey is being conducted on drivers at a gas station, people/households who do not own a motor vehicle will not be included in the survey.
Because the survey is being conducted on drivers at a gas station, people/households who do not own a motor vehicle will not be included in the survey.
The best way to reduce variability in an unbiased sample is to .
The best way to reduce variability in an unbiased sample is to .
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Using random sampling methods alone does not reduce variability in a sample; they only reduce bias. The best way to reduce variability in an unbiased sample is to take a bigger sample—the bigger the population of the sample, the less widespread the results will be. It is important to remember that if there is bias present in a sample, a large sample population size (n value) will not be enough to overcome the bias.
Using random sampling methods alone does not reduce variability in a sample; they only reduce bias. The best way to reduce variability in an unbiased sample is to take a bigger sample—the bigger the population of the sample, the less widespread the results will be. It is important to remember that if there is bias present in a sample, a large sample population size (n value) will not be enough to overcome the bias.
Identify the type of bias:
A radio station polls listeners on a controversial issue by talking to people who call in to the station.
Identify the type of bias:
A radio station polls listeners on a controversial issue by talking to people who call in to the station.
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Voluntary response bias usually results when those sampled are volunteers who select themselves.
Voluntary response bias can cause results to over represent those who have a strong opinion.
Voluntary response bias usually results when those sampled are volunteers who select themselves.
Voluntary response bias can cause results to over represent those who have a strong opinion.
Identify the type of bias:
A researcher wants to know what proportion of people in the United States favor student debt reform. The researcher goes to five universities and at each asks people whether they favor student debt reform.
Identify the type of bias:
A researcher wants to know what proportion of people in the United States favor student debt reform. The researcher goes to five universities and at each asks people whether they favor student debt reform.
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This is an example of undercoverage because the researcher did not speak to people who were not affiliated with a university. Therefore the researcher did not adequately sample all members of the overall population (people in the United States).
This is an example of undercoverage because the researcher did not speak to people who were not affiliated with a university. Therefore the researcher did not adequately sample all members of the overall population (people in the United States).
Identify the type of bias:
A researcher wants to know what proportion of coffee drinkers would pay more than $5 for a coffee drink. The researcher asks the following question:
"Do you agree that $5 is way too much to pay for a simple coffee"
Identify the type of bias:
A researcher wants to know what proportion of coffee drinkers would pay more than $5 for a coffee drink. The researcher asks the following question:
"Do you agree that $5 is way too much to pay for a simple coffee"
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By using the words way too much and simple coffee, the researcher is introducing bias into their question by causing people to favor one response over another.
To avoid this sampling bias, the researcher should use more neutral wording, such as "Agree or diasgree- I would pay $5 or more for a coffee drink."
By using the words way too much and simple coffee, the researcher is introducing bias into their question by causing people to favor one response over another.
To avoid this sampling bias, the researcher should use more neutral wording, such as "Agree or diasgree- I would pay $5 or more for a coffee drink."
You are trying to conduct a survey of students within a college community to see if you should cut funding to the athletics department to save money. Which of the following manners of conducting this survey would lead to the least bias possible?
You are trying to conduct a survey of students within a college community to see if you should cut funding to the athletics department to save money. Which of the following manners of conducting this survey would lead to the least bias possible?
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The correct answer (random sample of 300 students) includes a random sample which will reduce in bias and also is given to be done in person which reduces completion bias. It is also taken from the whole population of students and is a large sample which makes it a good representation of the population. Sending out a questionnaire has completion bias because the only people that will send it back will have strong and possibly biased beliefs already. The hot line has the same effect as those that have strong and biased opinions will be the ones to do it. Pulling students aside as they walk by is not a truly randomly constructed sample and using only 10 students is not a good representation of a whole college. Selecting a sample of just athletes is very biased as they will not want their programs cut.
The correct answer (random sample of 300 students) includes a random sample which will reduce in bias and also is given to be done in person which reduces completion bias. It is also taken from the whole population of students and is a large sample which makes it a good representation of the population. Sending out a questionnaire has completion bias because the only people that will send it back will have strong and possibly biased beliefs already. The hot line has the same effect as those that have strong and biased opinions will be the ones to do it. Pulling students aside as they walk by is not a truly randomly constructed sample and using only 10 students is not a good representation of a whole college. Selecting a sample of just athletes is very biased as they will not want their programs cut.
Shawn would like to determine what the most popular television channel is in his town, called Hearne.
Which of the following would be an appropriate target population for the survey?
Shawn would like to determine what the most popular television channel is in his town, called Hearne.
Which of the following would be an appropriate target population for the survey?
Tap to see back →
Since Shawn would like to know the most popular television channel in his town, he must include all residents of the town in his target population. The sample must come from the directory and each person in the directory should have an equal chance of being selected. The incorrect options are too narrowly focused and are not representative of the town.
Since Shawn would like to know the most popular television channel in his town, he must include all residents of the town in his target population. The sample must come from the directory and each person in the directory should have an equal chance of being selected. The incorrect options are too narrowly focused and are not representative of the town.