In 2014 Scotland was considering independence from England, going so far as to take a referendum vote. One opinion poll taken at the time showed that 51 percent of Scots favored "independence." In another poll taken at that same time, only 34 percent favored being "separate" from England. The primary reason these results differed by so much is that:
A) samples will usually differ just by chance due to random sampling.
B) the wording of questions has a big effect on poll results.
C) more follow-up efforts reduced the nonresponse rate of the second poll.
D) the sample sizes are different, so the margins of error are different.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The difference in the wording of the questions ("independence" vs. "separate") likely influenced how respondents answered, causing the significant difference in results. This highlights the importance of carefully considering the wording of poll questions to ensure accurate results. Choices A, C, and D are not relevant to explaining the difference in results between the two polls.

In 2014 Scotland Was Considering Independence from England, Going So