A sample is chosen for a study on average heights and weights of adult males in a major city. The researcher uses a convenience sampling method, enacting this by going door-to-door in a neighborhood in St. Paul, Minnesota. Unbeknownst to the researcher, this neighborhood is very rich in persons of Norwegian descent, who coincidentally are the tallest Caucasians on the planet. What type of sampling error is most likely to occur due to this sampling method?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sampling method described is likely to introduce systematic bias because the sample is not representative of the entire population of adult males in the major city, but rather skewed towards persons of Norwegian descent, who are taller on average. This bias arises from the method of convenience sampling in a specific neighborhood, rather than a random or stratified sample that would better represent the diverse population.

A Sample Is Chosen for a Study on Average Heights