Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisMediumChoosing a representative sample
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question
A council wants to estimate the proportion of all residents who would use a new evening bus. Which sampling method is most likely to give an unbiased estimate?
- A. Selecting 400 residents at random from the electoral register and contacting eachCorrect
- B. Surveying 400 people waiting at the bus station one evening
- C. Posting a poll on the bus company's website
- D. Surveying 400 residents of the streets nearest the proposed route
Answer: A. Selecting 400 residents at random from the electoral register and contacting each
A random draw from the full register gives every resident an equal chance.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. Surveying 400 people waiting at the bus station one evening
- People at the bus station are far more likely than average to want buses.
- C. Posting a poll on the bus company's website
- Website visitors self-select and are likely bus users.
- D. Surveying 400 residents of the streets nearest the proposed route
- Residents near the route have a stronger interest than the town as a whole.
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