You want to determine the average number of songs people keep on their MP3 players. You want to collect data from a random sample of at least 300. Which of these would be the most valid method of collecting data?
a. Survey students coming in and out of your school cafeteria.
b. Survey an equal number of students, teachers, parents, and grandparents.
c. Survey the residents in a retirement community.
d. Survey the people coming in and out of the grocery store on a Sunday morning.
I think it's D. But I'm not sure.
I don't like any of those choices.
How many young people go to the grocery store on Sunday morning?
B is the best way of getting a random sample. However, you'd probably get a "HUH?" from older people.
Hehe, thanks Ms. Sue. Your the best! :D
You're very welcome. :-)
To determine the average number of songs people keep on their MP3 players, you need to collect data from a random sample of at least 300 people. Let's evaluate the most valid method among the options given:
a. Survey students coming in and out of your school cafeteria:
While this method may be convenient and accessible, it is not representative of the entire population as it only includes students. Therefore, it may not provide an accurate estimate of the average number of songs people keep on their MP3 players.
b. Survey an equal number of students, teachers, parents, and grandparents:
This method includes a more diverse range of participants, which is beneficial. However, it is important to ensure that the sample is truly random and representative to avoid any biases. Without proper randomization, this method may not yield accurate results.
c. Survey the residents in a retirement community:
Although this method focuses on a specific demographic (older adults), it may not provide a representative sample of the entire population. The average number of songs on MP3 players among residents in a retirement community may differ significantly from the general population.
d. Survey the people coming in and out of the grocery store on a Sunday morning:
This method has the potential to provide a more diverse sample as it includes individuals from various backgrounds. Additionally, by surveying people at different times of the day, you might capture a wider range of habits and preferences. However, it is crucial to ensure the sample is random and representative of the population as a whole.
In conclusion, among the given options, option D (surveying people coming in and out of the grocery store on a Sunday morning) seems like the most valid method. However, it is important to note that the validity of the method ultimately depends on the implementation, rigor of sampling, and randomization techniques used.