Alex, a first-year student at university, wants to know how many of her dorm mates have tried marijuana, so she decides to survey everyone on her floor. Despite rumours to the contrary, the results suggest that fewer than 10 per cent of her classmates have tried the drug. What is the most likely explanation for her findings?
A)People often distort their answers or fail to tell the complete truth when surveyed.
B)Her dorm mates did not understand the question.
C)Alex did not calculate the findings correctly.
D)Surveys are not an acceptable means to gather new information.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Research suggests that individuals may not always provide truthful answers in surveys, particularly when asked about sensitive topics such as drug use. Therefore, it is possible that some of Alex's dorm mates may have not disclosed their marijuana use, resulting in the lower reported prevalence.

Alex, a First-Year Student at University, Wants to Know How