/*! 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 78 The article "Workers Grow More D... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

The article "Workers Grow More Dissatisfied" in the San Luis Obispo Tribune (August 22,2002 ) states that "a survey of 5000 people found that while most Americans continue to find their jobs interesting, and are even satisfied with their commutes, a bare majority like their jobs." This statement was based on the fact that only 51 percent of those responding to a mail survey indicated that they were satisfied with their jobs. Describe any potential sources of bias that might limit the researcher's ability to draw conclusions about working Americans based on the data collected in this survey.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The researcher's ability to draw conclusions about working Americans based on the data collected in this survey could be limited by several potential sources of bias. These include, but may not be limited to, a non-response bias due to the mail survey collection method, potential bias introduced by the framing of the survey question, and an insufficient sample size skewed towards those dissatisfied with their jobs.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Study's Subjects

The survey in question was conducted among a population of 5000 people, presumably representing a cross-section of working Americans.
02

Analyze the Data Collection Method

The data was gathered through a mail survey. This method can limit the pool of respondents because it relies on those who actively choose to respond. A non-response bias may occur where working Americans who are dissatisfied with their jobs feel more inclined to respond, while those satisfied might not respond.
03

Analyze the Survey Question

The phrasing and the structure of the survey question can also introduce bias. If the question was framed in a way that invites either a positive or negative response, it could skew the results of the survey. We lack this information here, so this could be a potential source of bias.
04

Analyze the Sample Size

While 5000 respondents may seem large, depending on the total number of employed Americans, this may be a relatively small sample size. If the sample size is too small, the results might not accurately represent the entire population of working Americans.
05

Analyze the Percentage Result

51 percent of the respondents said they were satisfied with their jobs, i.e. a bare majority. However, considering potential sources of bias, the result may not be truly representative of the feelings of all working Americans. Thus, such a result needs to be evaluated with suspicions of potential bias.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

A study of college students showed a temporary gain of up to 9 IQ points after listening to a Mozart piano sonata. This conclusion, dubbed the Mozart effect, has since been criticized by a number of researchers who have been unable to confirm the result in similar studies. Suppose that you wanted to see whether there is a Mozart effect for students at your school. a. Describe how you might design an experiment for this purpose. b. Does your experimental design include direct control of any extraneous variables? Explain. c. Does your experimental design use blocking? Explain why you did or did not include blocking in your design. d. What role does random assignment play in your design?

The article "I'd Like to Buy a Vowel, Drivers Say" (USA Today. August 7. 2001 ) speculates that young people prefer automobile names that consist of just numbers and/or letters that do not form a word (such as Hyundai's XG300, Mazda's 626, and BMW's 325i). The article goes on to state that Hyundai had planned to identify the car that was eventually marketed as the XG300 with the name Concerto, until they determined that consumers hated it and that they thought XG300 sounded more "technical" and deserving of a higher price. Do the students at your school feel the same way? Describe how you would go about selecting a sample to answer this question.

The article "A Debate in the Dentist's Chair" (San Luis Obispo Tribune, January 28,2000 ) described an ongoing debate over whether newer resin fillings are a better alternative to the more traditional silver amalgam fillings. Because amalgam fillings contain mercury, there is concern that they could be mildly toxic and prove to be a health risk to those with some types of immune and kidney disorders. One experiment described in the article used sheep as subjects and reported that sheep treated with amalgam fillings had impaired kidney function. a. In the experiment, a control group of sheep that received no fillings was used but there was no placebo group. Explain why it is not necessary to have a placebo group in this experiment. b. The experiment compared only an amalgam filling treatment group to a control group. What would be the benefit of also including a resin filling treatment group in the experiment? c. Why do you think the experimenters used sheep rather than human subjects?

The article "Gene's Role in Cancer May Be Overstated" (San Luis Obispo Tribune, August 21. 2002) states that "early studies that evaluated breast cancer risk among gene mutation carriers selected women in families where sisters, mothers, and grandmothers all had breast cancer. This created a statistical bias that skewed risk estimates for women in the general population." Is the bias described here selection bias, measurement bias, or nonresponse bias? Explain.

The article “Americans are 'Getting the Wrong Idea' on Alcohol and Health" (Associated Press, April 19,2005 ) reported that observational studies in recent years that have concluded that moderate drinking is associated with a reduction in the risk of heart disease may be misleading. The article refers to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that showed that moderate drinkers, as a group, tended to be better educated, wealthier, and more active than nondrinkers. Explain why the existence of these potentially confounding variables prevents drawing the conclusion that moderate drinking is the cause of reduced risk of heart disease.

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Math Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.