1
Identifying Sampling Methods
In each of the following examples, identify the sampling method being used.
1. A sample of 2,000 was sought to estimate the average achievement in science of fifth graders
in a city’s public schools. The average fifth grade enrollment in the city’s elementary schools
is 100 students. Thus, 20 schools were randomly selected and within each of those schools all
fifth graders were tested.
2. A researcher is interested in maximum-security inmates. She groups inmates by the type of
crime committed, determines the percentage of the total in each crime category, and uses that
percentage to determine the number of inmates randomly selected from each group.
3. A researcher has a population of 100 third grade children from a local school district from
which a sample of 25 children is to be selected. Each child’s name is put on a list, and each
child is assigned a number from 1 to 100. Then the numbers 1 to 100 are written on separate
pieces of paper and shuffled. Finally, the researcher picks 25 slips of paper and the numbers
on the paper determine the 25 participants.
4. A sociologist conducts an opinion survey in a major city. Part of the research plan calls for
describing and comparing the opinions of four different ethnic groups: African Americans,
Asian Americans, European Americans, and Native Americans. For a total sample of 300,
the researcher selects 75 participants from each of the four predetermined subgroups.
5. A researcher is interested in political attitudes of individuals within a particular state. The
researcher uses the following procedure to obtain a sample: (a) a random sample of counties
is drawn, (b) within the counties selected, districts are randomly drawn, (c) within each
district, blocks are randomly sampled, (d) within blocks selected, building are randomly
drawn, and (d) all residents within the buildings selected comprise the sample.
6. Instructors teaching research methods are interested in knowing what study techniques their
students are utilizing. Rather than assessing all students, the researchers randomly select 10
students from each of the sections to comprise their sample.
7. A researcher is interested in maximum-security inmates. She groups maximum-security
prisons by state, randomly selects 10 states, and, from those 10, selects three prisons. She
includes all the inmates in those three prisons in her sample.
Worksheet: Statistics Name:_____________
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. What is the best sampling technique to use for determining the average speed of the cars on a
section of highway?
a. simple random sample c. convenience sample
b. systematic sample d. a) or b)
____ 2. Which method is most likely to produce a random sample of the members of your class?
a. listing the first six students that come to mind
b. choosing the five oldest students in the class
c. writing the name of each student on a separate piece of paper and then drawing
these slips from a hat
d. selecting the first six students to arrive at class
____ 3. A large corporation wants to find out which benefits plan its employees would prefer. Which
procedure would be most likely to obtain a statistically unbiased sample?
a. surveying a random sample of employees from a list of all employees
b. inviting all employees to indicate their choices by e-mail
c. placing suggestion boxes at random locations in the company’s plant and offices
d. assembling a group with one member from each department and recording the
preferences of these employees
____ 4. A college president wants to find out which courses students consider to be of the most benefit to
them. Which procedure would be most likely to produce a statistically unbiased sample?
a. asking students to mail in a questionnaire
b. surveying a random sample of students taken from the list of all students
c. surveying the first hundred students on an alphabetical list
d. having students complete a questionnaire on the college web site
____ 5. A pollster wants to find out if citizens are satisfied with the city council. Which procedure would be
most appropriate for obtaining a statistically unbiased sample?
a. interviewing people at a popular local shopping centre
b. surveying people whose names have been randomly chosen from the telephone
book
c. placing an advertisement in the local newspaper asking for mail-in responses
d. mailing a questionnaire to people whose names have been chosen randomly from
a list of customers of the municipal utility company
Completion
Complete each statement.
6. The group of individuals who actually have a chance of being selected for a survey is called
______________________________.
7. The set of all individuals who belong to the group being studied by a survey is called
_________________________.
Short Answer
8. A television reporter interviewed travellers stranded at an airport during a snowstorm about the
efficiency of air travel in Canada. Name the sampling techniques used.
9. A soap company distributed free samples of a new laundry detergent to all households in several
randomly selected neighbourhoods. The company requested the recipients to return a postage-paid
card indicating whether they thought the sample was better than their usual detergent. What
sampling techniques was the company using?
10. Identify the population implied in each statement.
a) Hockey Night in Canada is watched by 23% of the TV audience.
b) A politician has the support of the party.
c) Today’s teenagers prefer comfort over style.
d) A survey shows that 60% of adult respondents in Ontario prefer toothbrushes with soft bristles.
11. A psychologist is studying the sleep patterns of the 3960 students at her university. She decides to
start by asking a random sample of 30 students how many hours of sleep they get weekday nights.
Identify the type of sample in each of the following survey methods.
a) The psychologist assigns each student a number from 1 to 3960. She selects the sample by
randomly choosing one of the first 132 numbers and every 132nd number thereafter.
b) The psychologist assigns each student a number from 0001 to 3960 and uses a computer to
randomly generate a list of 30 numbers to select the students for the sample.
c) Students are listed by the neighbourhood they live in. The psychologist randomly selects six
neighbourhoods and then randomly selects five students from each one.
d) An equal proportion of students are randomly selected from each discipline.
Problem
12. A particular school has 550 female students and 590 male students. A random sample of 30
students was surveyed for suggestions about social activities for the following school year.
a) Is it possible that the sample included only male students?
b) Would a sample consisting entirely of male students be representative of the school population?
Explain your reasoning.