Which sampling method was used? Does the sample have a bias? Explain.
a) A concerned citizen stands outside of the courthouse with a petition to outlaw tickets being given for parking meters to be removed .
Based on the information provided, it appears that the sampling method used in this scenario is convenience sampling. Convenience sampling involves selecting individuals who are readily available or easily accessible to participate in the study.
In this case, the concerned citizen is standing outside of the courthouse inviting people to sign a petition. The sample is likely to include individuals who happen to be at the courthouse during that specific time and are willing to engage with the concerned citizen's request. Therefore, the sample is not representative of the entire population as it does not include individuals who may have different opinions or are not present at the courthouse at that moment.
Considering the sampling method used, the sample is likely to have a bias. Bias refers to the systematic deviation of the sample from the true population characteristics. In this case, the sample may be biased because it relies on those who willingly approach the concerned citizen or agree to sign the petition. This could result in overrepresentation of individuals who share the same sentiment as the concerned citizen while potentially underrepresenting those who hold different views or are not present at the courthouse during that time.
To mitigate bias, a more appropriate sampling method, such as random sampling or stratified sampling, could be employed. Random sampling involves selecting individuals randomly from the entire population, while stratified sampling divides the population into relevant subgroups and selects individuals from each subgroup in a random manner. These methods increase the likelihood of obtaining a representative sample and reduce bias.