a reporter surveys people leaving an ice hockey game and asks them whether they agree that the rink is old and rundown and should be destroyed to make room for a new Shop Smart Store. Why might the data this reporter collects be biased?
first of all i don't know what is biased and im so confused about this problem grrr.
Obviously, the people who have participated in or watched the game are interested in hockey.
This is a biased sample because it's just one small sample who obviously enjoy ice hockey. It doesn't take into consideration the opinions of others in the community.
Biased means he has already made up his mind which way he wants the survery to go and he has phrased his question in that way.
http://www.answers.com/biased
http://www.answers.com/prejudiced
If he were to rephrase the question in this way, he would probably get better results, even if the data supports his own private view:
"Do you think this rink should be demolished and a new retail store built on this ground?"
No problem, I'm here to help! Biased data refers to information that may be skewed or distorted due to various factors, leading to an inaccurate representation of reality. In this case, there are a few reasons why the data collected by the reporter might be biased:
1. Sampling Bias: The reporter is only surveying people leaving the ice hockey game. This could lead to a biased sample since it might not represent the opinions of the broader population. For example, if the survey is predominantly conducted near the entrance of the game, it may capture the views of people who are more likely to support a new store, while ignoring the opinions of those who disagree.
2. Question Wording Bias: The way the reporter frames the question could influence the responses. By describing the rink as "old and rundown" and suggesting it should be "destroyed," the question is biased towards a negative portrayal of the rink. This bias may lead respondents to be more inclined to agree with the idea of replacing the rink with a new store.
3. Self-Selection Bias: People who choose to participate in the survey may not be representative of the broader population attending the hockey game. Those who have stronger opinions, particularly in favor of or against the rink, may be more likely to respond, while others who are indifferent may choose not to participate. This self-selection bias can skew the overall results.
To mitigate these biases, the reporter could adopt several strategies. They could conduct the survey at various locations and times within the arena to capture a more diverse range of opinions. They could also use neutral language when framing the question, avoiding any wording that might suggest a particular position. Additionally, to minimize self-selection bias, the reporter could encourage a random selection of participants or employ a systematic sampling technique.