/*! 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 29 Whether or not to continue a Mar... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91影视

91影视

Log out

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 1: Problem 29

Whether or not to continue a Mardi Gras Parade through downtown San Luis Obispo, California, is a hotly debated topic. The parade is popular with students and many residents, but some celebrations have led to complaints and a call to eliminate the parade. The local newspaper conducted both an online survey and a telephone survey of its readers and was surprised by the results. The online survey received more than 400 responses, with more than \(60 \%\) favoring continuing the parade, while the telephone response line received more than 120 calls, with more than \(90 \%\) favoring banning the parade (San Luis Obispo Tribune, March 3,2004 ). What factors may have contributed to these very different results?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Several factors may have contributed to the different results in the online and telephone surveys regarding the continuation of the Mardi Gras Parade in San Luis Obispo. These factors include potential biases in survey methods, differences in respondent characteristics such as age and socio-economic background, external factors influencing public opinion, and the possibility of sampling errors. Analyzing these factors can help to understand the discrepancies in the results and improve future surveys.

Step by step solution

01

Identify potential biases in survey methods

Each survey method, whether online or telephone, may have some level of bias in its results. Biases can occur due to sample selection, response options, question phrasing, or other elements of survey design. In this step, consider the potential biases in both online and telephone surveys and how these may have impacted the results.
02

Consider the characteristics of the respondents

The choice of survey method can also affect the demographics and characteristics of the respondents. Some groups of people may prefer to answer online, while others may prefer telephone surveys, for example, due to age, socio-economic background, or technological preferences. When comparing the results of these two surveys, it's important to take into account the respondent pool of both surveys and how those differences might contribute to the different results.
03

Examine the external factors influencing the results

Aside from the survey methods and respondents, there may be external factors that could have influenced the results of the surveys. For example, the surveys could have been conducted in different time periods or under varying circumstances, or influenced by significant events, leading to shifts in public opinion. Analyze any external factors that could have played a role in the different results obtained from the online and telephone surveys.
04

Explore the possibility of sampling errors

It is essential to acknowledge that surveys can be subject to sampling errors. Even if a survey is perfectly designed and conducted, there might still be a discrepancy between the survey's results and the population's actual preferences due to the randomness inherent in sampling. The possibility of sampling errors in both the online and telephone surveys should be taken into account when analyzing the factors contributing to the differences in the results. To sum up, factors influencing the different results in the online and telephone survey might include potential biases, differences in respondent characteristics, external factors, and sampling errors. A thorough examination of these factors can help in understanding the discrepancies in the results and ensuring better survey design in the future.

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 91影视!

Key Concepts

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

Bias in Surveys
Bias in surveys occurs when certain survey elements lead to partial or skewed results. This can happen due to various reasons.
One common source of bias is the survey method itself. For instance, online surveys may attract younger, more tech-savvy respondents, while older individuals might prefer telephone surveys.
Another factor leading to bias could be the question design. Leading questions or those with limited response options can sway answers.
Bias can also stem from how a sample is selected. If the sample isn't representative of the wider population, the results could be biased. To minimize bias, it's crucial to design surveys carefully, taking into account the target audience, questions, and method of dissemination.
Sampling Errors
Sampling errors occur when the sample doesn't perfectly represent the population, leading to discrepancies in results.
This doesn't mean there's a flaw in the survey. Even well-designed surveys can have sampling errors because of the variability in selecting a representative sample.
For example, in an online survey, you might randomly select 400 people from a city of 20,000. However, it鈥檚 possible that this sample might not reflect the views of the entire population due to the randomness inherent in sampling.
  • The larger your sample size, the lower the sampling error.
  • Using random sampling techniques can help in reducing sampling errors.
Thus, recognizing and understanding sampling errors is key to interpreting survey results accurately.
Respondent Characteristics
Respondent characteristics are crucial in understanding survey outcomes. Different demographics respond differently to surveys based on their characteristics.
Variables such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and technological aptitude play a significant role.
For example:
  • Younger people might prefer online surveys due to their comfort with technology, while older individuals may feel more comfortable responding via telephone.
  • People in higher economic strata might have more access to online resources, influencing their likelihood to participate in online surveys.
Different characteristics can heavily influence preferences and opinions, thus affecting survey results.
External Factors in Surveys
External factors are those influences that lie outside the immediate survey process but can still affect outcomes significantly.
These include factors such as timing, significant events, or media influence.
For instance, if a survey is conducted during a cultural event related to the survey topic, results might be skewed towards opinions supporting that event.
  • Timing: Surveys conducted near the date of the event may capture heightened emotion or interest.
  • Media: Media coverage can influence public opinion, impacting how respondents answer.
To mitigate these influences, surveys must aim to collect responses across different times and circumstances, as this can help balance out skewed influence from exceptional external factors.

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

The article "Study Points to Benefits of Knee Replacement Surgery Over Therapy Alone" (New York Times, October 21,2015\()\) describes a study to compare two treatments for people with knee pain. In the study, 50 people with arthritis received knee replacement surgery followed by a program of exercise. Another 50 people with arthritis did not have surgery but received the same program of exercise. After 1 year, \(85 \%\) of the people who had surgery and \(68 \%\) of the people who did not have surgery reported pain relief. a. Why is it important to determine if the researchers randomly assigned the subjects to one of the two groups? b. Explain why you think that the researchers might have wanted to include a control group in this study.

"San Fernando Valley residents OK with 1-cent transit tax, MTA poll says" is the headline of an article that appeared in the LA Daily News (April 12,2016 ). This headline was based on responses from a sample of 100 San Fernando Valley residents. Describe the sample and the population of interest for this poll.

In many digital environments, users are allowed to choose how they are represented visually online. Does the way in which people are represented online affectonline behavior? This question was examined by the authors of the paper "The Proteus Effect: The Effect of Transformed Self-Representation on Behavior" (Human Communication Research [2007]: 271-290). Participants were randomly assigned either an attractive avatar (a graphical image that represents a person) to represent them or an unattractive avatar. The researchers concluded that when interacting with a person of the opposite gender in an online virtual environment, those assigned an attractive avatar moved significantly closer to the other person than those who had been assigned an unattractive avatar. This difference was attributed to the attractiveness of the avatar. Explain why the researchers would not have been able to reach this conclusion if participants had been allowed to choose one of the two avatars (attractive, unattractive) themselves.

For each of the statistical studies described, indicate whether the study is an observational study or an experiment. Give a brief explanation for your choice. USA TODAY (August 25,2015 ) reported that "American women favor Kate Middleton as a shopping buddy over Michelle Obama by 10 percentage points." This statement was based on a study in which 1001 adults were surveyed about their shopping preferences.

The article "Display of Health Risk Behaviors on MySpace by Adolescents" (Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine [2009]: \(27-34\) ) described a study in which researchers looked at a random sample of 500 publicly accessible MySpace web profiles posted by 18-year-olds. The content of each profile was analyzed. One of the conclusions reported was that displaying sport or hobby involvement was associated with decreased references to risky behavior (sexual references or references to substance abuse or violence). a. Is it reasonable to generalize the stated conclusion to all 18-year-olds with a publicly accessible MySpace web profile? What aspect of the study supports your answer? b. Not all MySpace users have a publicly accessible profile. Is it reasonable to generalize the stated conclusion to all 18-year-old MySpace users? Explain. c. Is it reasonable to generalize the stated conclusion to all MySpace users with a publicly accessible profile? Explain.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Math Textbooks

Mechanics Maths

Read Explanation

Statistics

Read Explanation

Calculus

Read Explanation

Geometry

Read Explanation

Logic and Functions

Read Explanation

Pure Maths

Read Explanation
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.