select a topic of interest to you and explain how you would come up with a reliable sample for obtaining peoples' opinions.
I'm interested in getting opinions about students who cheat.
What topic are you interested in?
I am not really sure at this point that's why i could use some help, I am having serious writer's block!! I am not trying to cheat I just need some help to get me started on this!!
The first thing you need to do is choose a topic that interests YOU.
Some other ideas:
* for-profit colleges vs. state-supported colleges
* Democrats or Republicans
* marriage
* don't ask, don't tell
One topic of interest for conducting an opinion survey could be "Public Perception of Renewable Energy." Here's how I would go about obtaining a reliable sample for collecting people's opinions:
1. Define the target population: Clearly identify the group of people whose opinions you want to assess. In this case, it could be the general public, or you might want to narrow it down to a specific country, age group, or demographic.
2. Determine the sample size: Decide how many individuals you need to survey to obtain a representative sample. The sample size depends on factors like the population size, desired level of accuracy, and confidence level. Online calculators and statistical formulas can help determine an appropriate sample size.
3. Choose a sampling method: There are several sampling methods available. Some common options for opinion surveys include random sampling, stratified sampling, and cluster sampling. Random sampling aims to select individuals randomly from the target population, while stratified sampling divides the population into subgroups based on relevant characteristics before sampling. Cluster sampling involves dividing the population into clusters, randomly selecting a few clusters, and surveying everyone within those clusters.
4. Select the sampling technique: Once you have chosen the sampling method, you need to decide on the specific technique to obtain the sample. For example, if using random sampling, you can employ techniques like simple random sampling (assigning each person a unique number and using a random number generator) or systematic sampling (selecting every nth person from a list of the target population).
5. Implement the survey: Once the sample is selected, you need to conduct the survey to collect people's opinions. This can be done through various methods, including online surveys, telephone interviews, in-person interviews, or mail-in questionnaires.
6. Analyze the data: After collecting the opinions, compile and analyze the data using appropriate statistical techniques. This will help identify trends, patterns, and overall public perception regarding renewable energy.
Remember that obtaining a representative sample is crucial to ensuring reliability and minimizing biases. It's also important to consider ethical considerations, such as obtaining informed consent, maintaining privacy, and handling data securely throughout the process.