/*! 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 42 Select the best answer A simple... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91影视

91影视

Select the best answer A simple random sample of 1200 adult Americans is selected, and each person is asked the following question: 鈥淚n light of the huge national deficit, should the government at this time spend additional money to establish a national system of health insurance?鈥 Only 39% of those responding answered 鈥淵es.鈥 This survey (a) is reasonably accurate since it used a large simple random sample. (b) needs to be larger since only about 24 people were drawn from each state. (c) probably understates the percent of people who favor a system of national health insurance. (d) is very inaccurate but neither understates nor overstates the percent of people who favor a system of national health insurance. Since simple random sampling was used, it is unbiased. (e) probably overstates the percent of people who favor a system of national health insurance.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The best answer is (c).

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Survey

This survey takes a sample of 1200 adult Americans, randomly chosen, to gauge opinions on government spending for health insurance. The result showed that 39% said 'Yes'. The adequacy of this result depends on whether the sample is representative and if the question could have biased responses.
02

Evaluating Survey Size

Analyze the importance of sample size. 1200 is considered a large enough sample for national surveys; such a size generally provides a reasonable level of confidence and margin of error in the results. This suggests (a) is plausible.
03

Considering Sample Distribution

Assess whether the distribution affects the accuracy. While 1200 respondents from varying states can ensure diverse representation, it's not the sole determinant of accuracy, eliminating the necessity claimed in (b).
04

Identifying Possible Bias in Responses

The phrasing of the question may influence responses; mentioning the 'huge national deficit' could incite financial concerns, leading to more negative responses. This suggests the survey might understate positive opinions among the general population, making (c) plausible.
05

Evaluating Accuracy and Bias

Since the survey employed simple random sampling, which is inherently unbiased, this doesn't automatically mean it avoids inaccuracies due to question phrasing, dismissing (d).
06

Examining Overstatement Possibility

The survey's phrasing would more likely deter positive responses rather than encourage them, making overstatement improbable. Thus, option (e) does not align with this analysis.
07

Conclusion: Best Answer Selection

Based on the above analysis, option (c) is the best choice, as the negative wording of the question likely underrepresents support for health insurance.

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.

Simple Random Sample
A simple random sample is a method of selecting individuals for a survey where every member of a population has an equal chance of being chosen. This approach ensures that the sample accurately reflects the broader population, reducing potential bias stemming from non-random selection.

When carrying out a simple random sampling, you randomly choose participants without trying to balance or stratify based on characteristics like age, location, or income. This randomness is crucial because it provides each participant an equal opportunity, thereby aiming to create a sample that truly represents the population. In our example, a survey of 1200 adult Americans was conducted using simple random sampling to gauge opinions on a national health insurance system. This method is straightforward and considered reliable if done correctly, since each person had an equal chance of being included in the survey.
Survey Bias
Survey bias occurs when the responses collected in a survey don't accurately represent the true opinions or behaviors of the population. This can arise due to the wording of questions, the survey method, or even the respondents' interpretation of questions.

In the given exercise, a potential source of bias is the phrasing of the question: "In light of the huge national deficit, should the government at this time spend additional money to establish a national system of health insurance?" Mentioning the 'huge national deficit' introduces a financial concern that might sway individuals to respond negatively, even if they would generally support the concept of national health insurance. Such wording can lead to an understatement of positive responses, illustrating the necessity of neutral wording to minimize bias and gather authentic opinions.
Sample Size
Sample size is a crucial factor in determining the reliability and accuracy of survey results. A larger sample size reduces the margin of error and increases confidence in the results, as it more closely mirrors the actual population.

In national surveys, sampling sizes generally need to be large enough to ensure diverse representation from across the country. In the solution provided, a sample size of 1200 is termed large enough to be statistically relevant. It provides a balance between practicality and accuracy, allowing researchers to draw valid conclusions without surveying the entire population. While each state may not be proportionately represented, such a sample size can still yield substantial insights about national opinions.
National Survey
A national survey aims to collect data from individuals across a wide geographic area to understand national trends or opinions. Conducting a national survey involves designing questions that cater to a diverse population while using strategies like simple random sampling to ensure results are representative.

In the aforementioned study, a survey was conducted among adult Americans to assess opinions on a national health insurance system, reflecting a typical national survey's goal: to inform policymakers or the public of national sentiment. To execute a national survey effectively, elements like an appropriate sample size, unbiased questions, and well-distributed participants are essential. This approach enables a comprehensive view of the country's perspectives, albeit with challenges like potential bias and ensuring adequate representation from all demographics.

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

Nurse-practitioners are nurses with advanced qualifications who often act much like primary-care physicians. Are they as effective as doctors at treating patients with chronic conditions? An experiment was conducted with 1316 patients who had been diagnosed with asthma, diabetes, or high blood pressure. Within each condition, patients were randomly assigned to either a doctor or a nurse-practitioner. The response variables included measures of the patients鈥 health and of their satisfaction with their medical care after 6 months.\(^{43}\) (a) Which are the blocks in this experiment: the different diagnoses (asthma, etc.) or the type of care (nurse or doctor)? Why? (b) Explain why a randomized block design is preferable to a completely randomized design in this setting.

Does day care help low-income children stay in school and hold good jobs later in life? The Carolina Abecedarian Project (the name suggests the ABCs) has followed a group of 111 children since 1972. Back then, these individuals were all healthy but low-income black infants in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. All the infants received nutritional supplements and help from social workers. Half were also assigned at random to an intensive preschool program.\(^{38}\) (a) Explain the purpose of each of the three experimental design principles. (b) Describe how each of these principles was used in this study.

Select the best answer Archaeologists plan to examine a sample of 2-meter-square plots near an ancient Greek city for artifacts visible in the ground. They choose separate random samples of plots from floodplain, coast, foothills, and high hills. What kind of sample is this? (a) A cluster sample (b) A convenience sample (c) A simple random sample (d) A stratified random sample (e) A voluntary response sample

The progress of a type of cancer differs in women and men. Researchers want to design an experiment to compare three therapies for this cancer. They recruit 500 male and 300 female patients who are willing to serve as subjects. (a) Which are the blocks in this experiment: the cancer therapies or the two sexes? Why? (b) What are the advantages of a randomized block design over a completely randomized design using these 800 subjects? (c) Suppose the researchers had 800 male and no female subjects available for the study. What advantage would this offer? What disadvantage?

A study in El Paso, Texas, looked at seat belt use by drivers. Drivers were observed at randomly chosen convenience stores. After they left their cars, they were invited to answer questions that included questions about seat belt use. In all, 75% said they always used seat belts, yet only 61.5% were wearing seat belts when they pulled into the store parking lots.16 Explain the reason for the bias observed in responses to the survey. Do you expect bias in the same direction in most surveys about seat belt use?

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.