A movie complex has eight different movie theaters. The manager of the complex wants to conduct a survey to determine which snacks to add to the menu. Which represents the best sample the manager could use for the survey?
A. Survey the first 100 movie-goers leaving the movie complex
B. Survey 100 randomly selected movie-goers that just watched a drama movie
C. Survey 100 randomly selected movie-goers in the 10-year-old to 40-year-old age bracket
D. Survey 100 randomly selected movie-goers from the entire complex
To determine which snacks to add to the menu, the manager of the movie complex should choose a sample that is representative of the overall movie-goer population. This means that the sample should reflect the diversity of movie-goers and their preferences.
Option A: Surveying the first 100 movie-goers leaving the movie complex might introduce a sampling bias since people arriving at different times may have different preferences or characteristics.
Option B: Surveying 100 randomly selected movie-goers that just watched a drama movie could introduce a bias by focusing only on drama movie-goers and their snack preferences. This sample may not represent the preferences of all movie-goers.
Option C: Surveying 100 randomly selected movie-goers in the 10-year-old to 40-year-old age bracket could introduce an age bias. While it is a good practice to consider different age groups, limiting the sample to a specific age range may exclude the preferences of other age groups.
Option D: Surveying 100 randomly selected movie-goers from the entire complex would be the best representation of the overall movie-goer population. This sample would include a diverse range of movie-goers and their preferences, providing a more accurate indication of which snacks to add to the menu.