Thursday, September 13, 2012

Chapter 7 Question # 3


A method that is used to ensure that a generalization about a population is reliable is called sampling to collect dada about a population at large or diverse. Sampling consists of selecting only some members of group and then making a generalization about the entire population that is based on only those few members of the group. A representative sample is a sample that is similar to the larger population from which it was drawn. When a pollster wants to get a representative sample, they use the method called random sampling. Random sampling is where every member of the population has an equal chance of being a part of the sample. Another type of sample is self-selected sample. The self-selected sample is a sample where only the people most interested in the poll or survey participate. This usually occurs on polls that are sponsored by television shows such as American Idol or award shows such as the VMA's where it is unrepresentative since its relied on the phone calls from viewers or the subscribers. 





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