Chapter 12.1, Problem 18PPS

a.

To determine

To identify: The sample and the population.

Answer to Problem 18PPS

Sample: People who take part in the survey.

Population: All people who vote.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

To estimate who the leading candidate is, the candidate’s committee surveys a large group of people selected at random. The returns indicate that their candidate is leading $58\%$ to $42\%$ .

Sample: People who take part in the survey.

Population: All people who vote.

b.

To determine

To state: Method of data collection.

Answer to Problem 18PPS

The method of data collection is a survey.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

To estimate who the leading candidate is, the candidate’s committee surveys a large group of people selected at random. The returns indicate that their candidate is leading $58\%$ to $42\%$ .

Since data is collected through responses from a sample of the population, it is a survey. This data allows the committee to draw a conclusion about the leading candidate.

c.

To determine

To state: If sample is biased or unbiased.

Answer to Problem 18PPS

The sample is biased.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

To estimate who the leading candidate is, the candidate’s committee surveys a large group of people selected at random. The returns indicate that their candidate is leading $58\%$ to $42\%$ .

Since data is collected from a large population, and not everyone is a voter, the sample is biased. The opinions of the non-voters will not matter and this will affect the result of the survey.

d.

To determine

To state: If sample is simple, stratified or systemic.

Answer to Problem 18PPS

The sample cannot be classified.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

To estimate who the leading candidate is, the candidate’s committee surveys a large group of people selected at random. The returns indicate that their candidate is leading $58\%$ to $42\%$ .

Since the sample is biased, it cannot be classified as simple, stratified or systemic.