A sampling interval of 5 was used to select a sample from a population of 1000.The researcher should start sampling with
A)the 5th element on the list.
B)a random start between 1 and 1000, including 1 and 1000.
C)a random start between 1 and 5, including 1 and 5.
D)a random start between 1 and 5, excluding either 1 or 5.
E)the researcher's favorite number.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since the sampling interval is 5, every 5th element in the population should be selected. Starting at 1 would only result in the first five elements being chosen, which is not representative of the entire population. Starting at 5 would ensure that the first sample selected is representative of the population. However, including either 1 or 5 is not necessary since they will not be selected in the sample. Therefore, the best choice is to randomly start between 1 and 5, including 1 and 5, to ensure randomness and avoid selection bias.

A Sampling Interval of 5 Was Used to Select a Sample