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In June 2008, Parade magazine posed the following question: 鈥淪hould drivers be banned from using all cell phones?鈥 Readers were encouraged to vote online at parade.com. The July 13, 2008, issue of Parade reported the results: 2407 (85%) said 鈥淵es鈥 and 410 (15%) said 鈥淣o.鈥 (a) What type of sample did the Parade survey obtain? (b) Explain why this sampling method is biased. Is 85% probably higher or lower than the true percent of all adults who believe that cell phone use while driving should be banned? Why?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The survey used a voluntary response sample, which is biased and likely overstates the true support for banning cell phone use while driving.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Type of Sample

The Parade magazine survey used a voluntary response sample. This means participants chose to engage with the survey by voluntarily visiting the website and submitting their vote.
02

Explain the Bias

Voluntary response samples tend to be biased because they often attract participants who feel strongly about the topic, leading to results that might not represent the views of the general population well.
03

Analyze the Impact of Bias on Results

Since individuals with strong opinions are more likely to participate in voluntary surveys, those who are in favor of banning cell phone use while driving are more likely to respond. This likely skews the results to show a higher percentage of 'Yes' votes than would be found in a random sample of all adults.
04

Compare to General Population

Considering the potential bias in voluntary response samples, the reported 85% is probably higher than the true percentage of all adults who believe that cell phone use while driving should be banned. A more representative sample would likely show more moderate results.

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Key Concepts

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

Voluntary Response Bias
Voluntary response bias occurs when the data collected in a survey reflects an overrepresentation of certain viewpoints. This happens because individuals voluntarily choose to participate in the survey. As these individuals often have strong opinions about the topic, their responses can lead to skewed results.

This is evident in the Parade magazine survey, where only those who felt strongly enough to visit the site cast a vote. Such samples can result in a heightened response of 'Yes' or 'No' that does not accurately match the beliefs of the broader population.

To minimize voluntary response bias, it is crucial to choose a sampling method where participants are selected randomly and do not self-select. This encourages a more varied and balanced sample, reflecting the diversity of opinions in the entire population.
Survey Bias
Survey bias refers to any aspect of a survey that systematically skews the results in a certain direction. Biases might emerge from many different sources, including question wording, survey format, or the method of data collection.

In the case of Parade magazine, the survey's online method can inadvertently cause survey bias. Since it was only accessible to those with internet access and intentionally checking the website, it may exclude a portion of the population, resulting in unbalanced data.

Reducing survey bias requires careful design and execution of the survey. Ensuring questions are neutral, formats are accessible to all, and methods include various channels to gather responses, can help achieve fairer and more accurate results.
Representative Samples
A representative sample precisely reflects the demographics and attitudes of the entire population. This means that each individual in the larger group has an equal chance of being selected for the sample. Such samples ensure that survey results are reliable and applicable to the wider public.

In the Parade magazine example, a truly representative sample would include a broad cross-section of adults, not just those who logged onto an online platform. This might involve using random sampling from a diverse list of phone numbers or addresses to invite participants, ensuring all voices have an opportunity to be heard.

Representative samples are key to generating accurate insights about public opinion. By expanding and diversifying the selection pool, you reduce the risk of bias and achieve a clearer picture of what the entire population believes.

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