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 used an introductory sociology class to carry out the survey. The sociologist has learned from previous studies that females and males often behave differently regarding study and sleep patterns. She decides that she needs to ensure adequate numbers of females and males. She should take:
A)a multi-stage sample.
B)two convenience samples, one of females and one of males.
C)a stratified random sample.
D)a multi-group sample.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A stratified random sample would allow the sociologist to ensure adequate representation of both females and males in the survey. This involves dividing the population into subgroups (in this case, females and males) and randomly selecting participants from each subgroup to ensure adequate representation. This method allows for more accurate results by reducing the impact of potential biases that may exist in different subgroups of the population. A multi-stage sample, two convenience samples, and a multi-group sample do not offer the same level of control over sampling biases as a stratified random sample.

A Sociologist Studying Freshmen at a Major University Carried Out