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In his statistics course project, a student stated "Millions of Internet users engaged in online activities of sexual harassment". This conclusion was based on a survey administrated through different social media networks, in which \(2 \%\) of the respondents reported they had sexually harassed someone online. In such a study, explain how there could be a. Sampling bias. (Hint: Are all Internet users equally likely to respond to the survey?) b. Nonresponse bias, if some users refuse to participate. c. Response bias, if some users who participate are not truthful.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Sampling, nonresponse, and response biases can distort survey results.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Sampling Bias

Sampling bias occurs when the sample is not representative of the population. In this case, the survey was conducted through social media networks, which may not include all demographics or types of internet users. Some groups may be overrepresented or underrepresented, leading to biased results. For instance, people who are more active on social media or have certain views might be more likely to respond than others.
02

Exploring Nonresponse Bias

Nonresponse bias happens when certain individuals do not respond to the survey, leading to a sample that does not accurately represent the overall population. If individuals who engage in or are victims of harassment choose not to respond because they are uncomfortable discussing it or believe it's a sensitive topic, the results might be skewed.
03

Identifying Response Bias

Response bias occurs when respondents do not provide truthful or accurate answers. In this survey, respondents may underreport engaging in harassment due to the fear of judgment or legal repercussions. Conversely, some might exaggerate their actions for attention or other reasons, affecting the validity of the data.

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Key Concepts

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

Nonresponse Bias
Nonresponse bias happens when certain segments of the population do not participate in a survey, causing the results to be unrepresentative of the entire group. This can significantly affect the outcome because the opinions or experiences of those who did not respond may differ from those who did.
To understand this better, consider a survey about online harassment conducted on social media. If individuals who are victims of harassment or those who have committed it choose not to participate due to discomfort or fear of exposure, this introduces nonresponse bias.
  • Nonresponse bias is a common issue in surveys, especially when the topic is sensitive.
  • This type of bias can lead to underreporting of sensitive behaviors or experiences.
  • To reduce nonresponse bias, researchers can make surveys anonymous or use multiple methods to collect responses, ensuring a more diverse participation.
Response Bias
Response bias occurs when the answers given by survey respondents are not truthful or accurate. This can happen for various reasons, such as social desirability, misunderstanding questions, or intentional deception.
In surveys dealing with sensitive subjects like online harassment, response bias can skew the results significantly. Respondents might underreport their involvement in harassment to avoid judgment or legal trouble, or they might exaggerate for personal reasons.
  • Response bias affects the credibility and reliability of survey results.
  • Researchers can minimize response bias by designing neutral and clear survey questions.
  • Using indirect questioning or providing anonymity can help improve the honesty of responses.
Survey Methodology
Survey methodology refers to the overall approach and techniques used to conduct surveys. It encompasses the sample design, data collection methods, question formulation, and interpretation of the data.
An effective survey methodology must aim to minimize different types of biases, such as sampling, nonresponse, and response biases, to ensure reliable and valid outcomes. When designing a survey on a topic like online harassment, researchers must consider various factors.
  • Choosing a representative sample is crucial to avoid sampling bias.
  • Utilizing multiple platforms and methods for survey distribution can help reach diverse participants and reduce nonresponse bias.
  • Crafting well-phrased, unbiased questions is essential to reduce response bias.
Good survey methodology is critical for generating data that accurately reflects the population being studied, leading to more valid research conclusions.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

For some time there has been debate about whether regular large doses of vitamin \(\mathrm{C}\) reduce the chance of getting a common cold. a. Explain how you could design an experiment to test this. Describe all parts of the experiment, including (i) what the treatments are, (ii) how you assign subjects to the treatments, and (iii) how you could make the study double-blind. b. An observational study indicates that people who take vitamin C regularly get fewer colds, on the average. Explain why these results could be misleading.

A pharmaceutical company has developed a new drug for treating high blood pressure. The company would like to compare the drug's effects to those of the most popular drug currently on the market. Two hundred volunteers with a history of high blood pressure and who are currently not on medication are recruited to participate in a study. a. Explain how the researchers could conduct a randomized experiment. Indicate the experimental units, the response and explanatory variables, and the treatments. b. Explain what would have to be done to make this study double-blind.

One hundred forty-eight men and women without heart disease or diabetes enrolled in a study. Half of the subjects were randomly assigned to a low-carb diet \((<40 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{d}),\) and the others were given a low-fat diet ( \(<30 \%\) of daily energy intake from total fat). Subjects on the low- carb diet lost more weight after one year compared with those on the low-fat diet (an average of 8 pounds more). (L. A. Bazzano et al., Ann Intern Med $$ 2014 ; 161(5): 309-318 . \text { doi: } 10.7326 / \mathrm{M} 14-0180) $$ a. Identify the response variable and the explanatory variable. b. Was this study an observational study or an experimental study? Explain. c. Based on this study, is it appropriate to recommend that everyone who wishes to lose weight should prefer a low-carb diet over a low-fat diet? Explain your answer.

Prefer M\&Ms or Smarties? You want to conduct an experiment with your siblings to see whether they prefer M\&Ms or Smarties candies. a. Explain how you could do this, incorporating ideas of blinding and randomization, (i) with a completely randomized design and (ii) with a matched pairs design. b. Which design would you prefer? Why?

A 2016 study (http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/26451509) investigated parallels between affect recognition in mothers with remitted depression and their children. They examined two groups - a group of remitted depressed mothers and a group of healthy mothers. Mothers with remitted depression showed a higher accuracy and response bias for sadness. The authors found corresponding results in their children. Children of remitted depressed mothers appeared to be exposed to a sadness processing bias outside acute depressive episodes. This could make children of depressed mothers more vulnerable to depressive disorders themselves. a. Identify the response variable and the explanatory variable. b. Is this study an observational study or an experiment? Explain. c. Can we conclude that a child's depressive disorder could be the result of having a mother with remitted depression? Explain.

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