As discussed in your text, the Literary Digest incorrectly predicted Alf Landon to win the 1936 presidential election over Franklin D. Roosevelt. What is believed to be the primary source of their error?
A)The control group.
B)The dependent variable.
C)The placebo group.
D)The sample.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The primary source of the error is believed to be the sample used by the Literary Digest. They sent out over 10 million questionnaires, but the respondents were primarily subscribers to the magazine and car owners, which resulted in a biased sample that did not accurately reflect the American electorate. They did not include enough low-income or urban voters, who were more likely to support Roosevelt, leading to a skewed prediction.

As Discussed in Your Text, the Literary Digest Incorrectly Predicted