How to conduct a sample survey - AP Statistics

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.

The company wants a survey on what consumers want. That means they are interested in all possible consumers. The other groups are too specific.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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."

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.

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.