Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisEasy–MediumWhy a phone-in vote is not a fair sample
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question
A radio station asks its listeners to phone in and vote on whether the station plays good music. Of those who phoned, 95 percent voted yes. Which of the following best explains why this result is not a fair measure of listeners' opinions?
- A. People who choose to phone in are not a random sample of listeners; those who like the station are more likely to bother.Correct
- B. Ninety-five percent is too high to be believed.
- C. Phone votes cannot be counted accurately.
- D. The station should have asked about a different topic.
Answer: A. People who choose to phone in are not a random sample of listeners; those who like the station are more likely to bother.
Self-selection, not chance, decided who was counted.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. Ninety-five percent is too high to be believed.
- A high figure is not itself evidence of a flawed method.
- C. Phone votes cannot be counted accurately.
- Counting is not the problem.
- D. The station should have asked about a different topic.
- The topic is not the problem.
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