A sociologist studying freshmen at a major university carried out a survey, asking (among other questions) how often students went out per week, how many hours they studied per day, and how many hours they slept at night. The sociologist, who knows about proper sampling, selects which type of a sample?
A)a volunteer sample
B)a random sample
C)a two-step sample
D)a hierarchical sample

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A random sample would ensure that the sociologist selects participants from the entire freshman population at the university, rather than just those who are willing to volunteer or who fit into a specific category. This would increase the representativeness of the sample and the external validity of the study.

A Sociologist Studying Freshmen at a Major University Carried Out