Textbook Question
Determine whether each number describes a population parameter or a sample statistic. Explain.
In a recent year, the average evidence-based reading and writing score on the SAT was 528. (Source: College Board)
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Ch. 1 - Introduction to Statistics
Larson8th EditionElementary Statistics: Picturing the WorldISBN: 9780137493470
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Introduction to Statistics87
- Ch. 2 - Descriptive Statistics176
- Ch. 3 - Probability184
- Ch. 4 - Discrete Probability Distributions102
- Ch. 5 - Normal Probability Distributions183
- Ch. 6 - Confidence Intervals154
- Ch. 7 - Hypothesis Testing with One Sample165
- Ch. 8 - Hypothesis Testing with Two Samples134
- Ch. 9 - Correlation and Regression87
- Ch. 10 - Chi-Square Tests and the F-Distribution87
Larson8th EditionElementary Statistics: Picturing the WorldISBN: 9780137493470Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 1, Problem 1.T.5b
Determine whether the survey question is biased. If the question is biased, suggest a better wording.
Do you agree that the town’s ban on skateboarding in parks is unfair?
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Identify whether the question is leading or biased. In this case, the phrase 'Do you agree that the town’s ban on skateboarding in parks is unfair?' is leading because it uses the word 'unfair,' which suggests a negative connotation and may influence the respondent's answer.
Understand that a biased question can lead to skewed survey results because it pushes respondents toward a particular answer rather than allowing them to form their own opinion.
To make the question unbiased, rephrase it in a neutral manner. For example, instead of using emotionally charged language, ask: 'What is your opinion on the town’s ban on skateboarding in parks?'
Ensure that the rephrased question allows for a range of responses, such as 'agree,' 'disagree,' or 'neutral,' to avoid forcing respondents into a specific viewpoint.
Review the revised question to confirm that it is free of any leading language or bias and that it encourages honest and unbiased responses from survey participants.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Survey Bias
Survey bias occurs when the wording of a question influences respondents' answers, leading to skewed results. This can happen if the question is leading, loaded, or assumes a particular viewpoint. Understanding survey bias is crucial for designing questions that elicit honest and unbiased responses.
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03:06
Intro to Random Variables & Probability Distributions Example 1
Question Framing
Question framing refers to how a question is presented and the context in which it is asked. The way a question is framed can significantly affect how respondents interpret it and what answers they provide. Effective framing should be neutral and allow for a range of responses without suggesting a preferred answer.
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Neutral Wording
Neutral wording in survey questions means using language that does not favor one side over another. This helps ensure that respondents feel comfortable expressing their true opinions. A well-worded question should avoid emotionally charged terms and provide a balanced view of the issue at hand.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Determine whether the number describes a population parameter or a sample statistic. Explain your reasoning.
In a survey of 1000 household food purchasers, 24.7% say that they avoid meat, dairy, and eggs produced by animals living in confined conditions. (Source: FoodPrint)
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Textbook Question
Determine whether the data are qualitative or quantitative, and determine the level of measurement of the data set. Explain your reasoning.
The numbers of employees at fast-food restaurants in a city are listed.
20 11 6 31 17 23 12 18 40 22 13 8 18 14 37 32 25 27 25 18
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Textbook Question
Researchers in Japan tested the effect of cannabidiol (CBD) in treating late teenagers with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Thirty-seven 18- to 19-year-old teenagers with SAD took part in the study. The patients were assigned at random to receive a daily dose of either CBD or a placebo for 4 weeks. Symptoms were measured using The Fear of Negative Evaluation Questionnaire and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale at the beginning and end of the treatment. (Source: Frontiers in Psychology)
a. Identify the experimental units and treatments used in this experiment.
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Textbook Question
Determine whether the survey question is biased. If the question is biased, suggest a better wording.
How many hours of sleep do you get on a normal night?
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Textbook Question
Identify the sampling technique used, and discuss potential sources of bias (if any). Explain.
Questioning teachers as they leave a faculty lounge, a researcher asks 45 of them about their teaching styles.
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