Which of the following methods would result in a representative sample for a research study designed to apply to the U.S.population?
A) Ask people who visit a website that is relevant to the topic being studied to complete a survey.
B) Randomly select names from the phone books in ten major cities.
C) On national television,air an advertisement that asks people to contact the researcher.
D) none of these

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

None of the methods listed would likely result in a representative sample of the U.S. population. A) would bias the sample towards those interested in the topic and who visit the website, B) would miss people without landlines or those not listed in phone books, and C) would likely attract those who watch that particular television program and are motivated to respond, which may not be representative of the entire population.

Which of the Following Methods Would Result in a Representative