Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisEasy–MediumWhy one year group is a poor sample
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question
A school wants to estimate the average time its 800 pupils spend on homework each night. It surveys every pupil in the oldest year group. Which of the following is the best reason the estimate may be unreliable?
- A. Pupils in the oldest year group may do more homework than pupils in other years.Correct
- B. The oldest pupils are more likely to tell the truth.
- C. The survey should have asked about weekends too.
- D. 800 pupils is too few to survey.
Answer: A. Pupils in the oldest year group may do more homework than pupils in other years.
One year group is not representative of all the years.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. The oldest pupils are more likely to tell the truth.
- Honesty is not the issue; representativeness is.
- C. The survey should have asked about weekends too.
- The question was about nightly homework.
- D. 800 pupils is too few to survey.
- 800 is the population, not a sample.
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