Author Question: This chapter stressed the importance of using appropriate samples for empirical studies. Consider ... (Read 113 times)

altibaby · **on:** Jun 29, 2018

This chapter stressed the importance of using appropriate samples for empirical studies. Consider the following two problems in that light.

a. You are given a class assignment to find out if people's political leanings affect the newspaper or magazine that they read. You survey two students taking a political science class and five people at a coffee shop. Almost all the people you have spoken to tell you that their political affiliations do not affect what they read. Based on the results of your study, you conclude that there is no relationship between political inclinations and the choice of a newspaper. Is this a valid conclusion? Why or why not?
b. Your uncle tells you that the newspaper or magazine that people buy will depend on their age. He says that he believes this because, at home, his wife and his teenage kids read different papers. Do you think his conclusion is justified?

Question 2

One reason purchasing power parity does not exactly hold is that many goods are not traded internationally.

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

meganmoser117 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 29, 2018

Answer to Question 1

a. The conclusion is not likely to be valid as the sample used in the study is too small. Convincing data analysis will depend on a much larger sample of people. The subjects of the study should also be randomly chosen to minimize the possibility of the results being biased.
b. This is an example of argument by anecdote. Using a small sample of people to judge a statistical relationship is likely to lead to flawed conclusions. The fact that your uncle's wife and kids do not base their reading on their political affiliations does not mean that others do not. In order to arrive at a conclusion, you need to survey more people and also make sure that they are chosen randomly.

Answer to Question 2

TRUE