/*! 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 34 \(A\) study in El Paso, Texas, l... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91影视

91影视

Log out

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 4: Problem 34

\(A\) 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 scat 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. \({ }^{17}\) Fexplain 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?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Bias occurs due to social desirability, leading to over-reporting of seat belt use. Such bias is common in similar surveys.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Observations

The study involves two observations: first, the percentage of drivers observed wearing seat belts upon arrival at the convenience store (61.5%), and second, the percentage of drivers who claimed to always use seat belts (75%) when surveyed.
02

Assess the Discrepancy

There is a noticeable discrepancy between observed behavior (61.5% wearing seat belts) and reported behavior (75% claimed they always use seat belts). This discrepancy suggests that drivers may not accurately report their actual seat belt usage.
03

Analyze Possible Causes of Bias

The observed bias could be due to social desirability bias, where respondents provide the response they believe is socially acceptable or expected, rather than the truth. In this case, drivers may over-report seat belt usage to align with legal and social expectations.
04

Evaluate the Direction of Bias

Given the nature of social desirability, the bias is towards over-reporting positive behaviors (in this case, seat belt usage). This type of bias is common in surveys where behaviors are socially or legally expected, such as wearing seat belts.
05

Conclusion on Bias Expectation

Yes, it is expected that similar surveys about seat belt use could show a bias in the same direction (over-reporting of seat belt use) due to social desirability 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 91影视!

Key Concepts

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

Seat Belt Use
Seat belts are an essential safety feature in vehicles. By wearing them, drivers and passengers significantly reduce the risk of injury or death in the event of an accident. Seat belts are designed to secure the occupants of a vehicle to prevent them from being thrown around or ejected during a crash. Despite their importance, not everyone consistently uses them, as seen in various studies.
For instance, a study conducted in El Paso, Texas observed that while 75% of drivers claimed they always used seat belts, only 61.5% were actually wearing them when observed. This stark contrast highlights not only the difference between reported behavior and actual behavior but also indicates the influence of various biases on how individuals report their habits.
Observational Study
An observational study is a research method where the subjects are observed in a natural setting without interference from the researchers. The aim is to gather data on specific behaviors or phenomena as they naturally occur. It is particularly useful for studying behaviors that might change under direct questioning or experimental conditions.
In the El Paso study of seat belt use, researchers used observational methods to record whether drivers wore seat belts when arriving at convenience stores. This method allowed researchers to collect data that reflects actual behavior rather than relying solely on self-reported information, which can be biased. Nonetheless, while observational studies provide valuable insights, they can still miss underlying motives or influences on behavior, as they only capture a snapshot of reality at a given moment.
Social Desirability Bias
Social desirability bias occurs when people respond to survey questions in a way they think is socially acceptable or favorable, rather than being completely honest. This can lead to inaccurate survey data, especially concerning behaviors or attitudes that carry social or legal expectations.
In the seat belt study, this bias likely influenced the results. While 75% of drivers stated they always used seat belts, only 61.5% were observed doing so. This discrepancy suggests that when asked, drivers felt compelled to report positively due to the societal and legal expectations of seat belt usage. Given the strong public safety campaigns and laws, many believe it preferable to be perceived as compliant with seat belt usage regulations. Therefore, social desirability bias in this sort of survey usually leans towards respondents over-reporting compliant behaviors. This bias is a consistent pattern in surveys related to socially desirable actions.

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 hotel has 30 floors with 40 rooms per floor. The rooms on one side of the hotel face the water, while rooms on the other side face a golf course. There is an extra charge for the rooms with a water view. The hotel manager wants to survey 120 guests who stayed at the hotel during a convention about their overall satisfaction with the property. (a) Explain why choosing a stratified random sample might be preferable to an SRS in this case. What would you use as strata? (b) Why might a cluster sample be a simpler option? What would you use as clusters?

A gardener wants to try different combinations of fertilizer (none, 1 cup, 2 cups) and mulch (none, wood chips, pine needles, plastic) to determine which combination produces the highest yield for a variety of green beans. He has 60 green-bean plants to use in the experiment. If he wants an equal number of plants to be assigned to each treatment, how many plants will be assigned to each treatment? (a) 1 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5 (e) 12

A group of students wants to perform an experiment to determine whether Brand \(A\) or Brand \(\mathrm{B}\) deodorant lasts longer. One group member suggests the following design: Recruit 40 student volunteers -20 male and 20 female. Separate by gender, because male and female bodies might respond differently to deodorant. Give all the males Brand A deodorant and all the females Brand B. Have each student rate how well the deodorant is still working at the end of the school day on a 0 to 10 scale. Then compare ratings for the two treatments. (a) Identify any flaws you see in the proposed design for this experiment. (b) Describe how you would design the experiment. Explain how your design addresses each of the problems you identified in part (a).

A common form of nonresponse in telephone surveys is "ring-no-answer." That is, a call is made to an active number but no one answers. The Italian National Statistical Institute looked at nonresponse to a government survey of households in Italy during the periods January 1 to Easter and July 1 to August \(31 .\) All calls were made between 7 and \(10 \mathrm{p} \cdot \mathrm{M} .,\) but \(21.4 \%\) gave "ring-no-answer" in one period versus \(41.5 \%\) "ring-no-answer" in the other period. \({ }^{16}\) Which period do you think had the higher rate of no answers? Why? Explain why a high rate of nonresponse makes sample results less reliable.

A researcher studied a group of identical twins who had been separated and adopted at birth. In each case, one twin (Twin \(\mathrm{A}\) ) was adopted by a low-income family and the other (Twin B) by a high-income family. Both twins were given an IQ test as adults. Here are their scores: \({ }^{48}\) $$ \begin{array}{lccccccccccc} \hline \text { Twin A: } & 120 & 99 & 99 & 94 & 111 & 97 & 99 & 94 & 104 & 114 & 113 & 100 \\ \text { Twin B: } & 128 & 104 & 108 & 100 & 116 & 105 & 100 & 100 & 103 & 124 & 114 & 112 \\ \hline \end{array} $$ (a) How well does one twin's IQ predict the other's? Give appropriate evidence to support your answer. (b) Do identical twins living in low-income homes tend to have lower IQs later in life than their twins who live in high-income homes? Give appropriate evidence to support your answer.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Math Textbooks

Discrete Mathematics

Read Explanation

Statistics

Read Explanation

Theoretical and Mathematical Physics

Read Explanation

Decision Maths

Read Explanation

Probability and Statistics

Read Explanation

Mechanics 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.