/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 6 The increasing popularity of onl... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

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The increasing popularity of online shopping has many consumers using Internet access at work to browse and shop online. In fact, the Monday after Thanksgiving has been nicknamed "Cyber Monday" because of the large increase in online purchases that occurs on that day. Data from a large-scale survey by a market research firm (Detroit Free Press, November 26,2005 ) was used to compute estimates of the percent of men and women who shop online while at work. The resulting estimates probably won't make most employers happy \(-42 \%\) of the men and \(32 \%\) of the women in the sample were shopping online at work! Are the estimates given computed using data from a sample or for the entire population?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The estimates are calculated based on a sample, not the entire population.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding of Sample and Population

When we discuss statistics, we often talk about a sample or a population. A sample is a subset of a population. In this context, the population would be all men and women who work, while a sample is a subset of these working men and women.
02

Analyse the Statements

Analyse the statements carefully. The statement is 'Data from a large-scale survey by a market research firm was used to compute estimates...' This clearly points out that a market research firm conducted a survey and then estimated percentages. Generally, surveys do not cover the entirety of a population.
03

Conclusion

The estimates are calculated based on a sample of the population. This is because the percentages of men and women shopping online at work is based on a large-scale survey, and not the entire working population.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Statistics and Data Analysis
Understanding statistics is crucial for interpreting data and making informed decisions. The heart of statistics is about examining variables within groups to find patterns, relationships, or discrepancies. In the example of online shopping behavior, data analysis involves extracting meaningful insights, such as the percentage of men and women shopping online while at work, from the collected data.
Statistics reveal trends that could potentially influence strategies for marketing, management, and beyond. For instance, if a high percentage of individuals are shopping online at work, this could indicate a need for companies to reconsider their internet usage policies or it could signal online retailers to target promotions during work hours.
Effective data analysis often requires the use of various statistical techniques such as calculation of averages, standard deviation, correlation coefficients, and hypothesis testing. These methods help in understanding the data more comprehensively and in deciding whether the findings can be generalized to a larger population.
Population Estimation
Population estimation involves deriving the approximate count or characteristics of an entire group (population) based on the analysis of a part of that group (sample). In the context of the exercise, the population would consist of all employed men and women who have the opportunity to shop online while at work. However, it is impractical and often impossible to collect data from every person in this group.
Thus, statisticians use a sample, which is a smaller, manageable portion of the population, to draw inferences. The key is ensuring that the sample represents the population well. Techniques like random sampling help improve representation.
Estimations from a sample need to be treated with a certain level of caution because they are subject to sampling error—the discrepancy between the sample's characteristics and the true values in the population. Confidence intervals and other statistical measures are used to express the reliability and precision of these estimates.
Sampling Methods
Sampling methods are fundamental to conducting surveys and research. They decide how the participants (samples) are chosen from the population. Common sampling methods include:
  • Random Sampling: Each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.
  • Stratified Sampling: The population is divided into subgroups (strata) based on certain characteristics, and random samples are taken from each stratum.
  • Cluster Sampling: The population is divided into clusters, often geographically, and a random sample of clusters is studied.
  • Systematic Sampling: Every nth member of the population is chosen after a random starting point.
  • Convenience Sampling: Participants are selected based on their availability or convenience to the researcher, which might not be representative of the entire population.
In our example of online shopping, the type of sampling method used can significantly affect the validity of the results. If the market research firm employed random sampling, the estimate of 42% of men and 32% of women shopping online at work is more likely to reflect the actual behavior of the entire working population. In contrast, if a convenience sampling method was used, results might be biased, thus not accurately representing the population's behavior.

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