A survey is planned to be done by contacting a random sample of ...

[javeds]

A survey is planned to be done by contacting a random sample of people who have bought something over the Internet; the question would ask whether sales made over the Internet should be taxed or not. The purpose is to estimate the proportion of all Americans who would support an Internet sales tax. Explain why selection bias would be a problem for this survey.

Question 2

The next three questions are based on a survey of 500 students living in campus dormitories. Questionnaires were mailed to each of the 500 students. The questionnaire asked if they had ever stolen a bicycle or not. The sample proportion who said they had stolen a bicycle was used to estimate the proportion of all students on campus who had ever stolen a bicycle. Describe why non-response bias could be a problem for this survey.

[mochi09]

Answer to Question 1

A sample of people would have bought something over the Internet is not representative of the population of all Americans, at least for this question.

Answer to Question 2

The questionnaire was mailed, and students could choose to not respond to the questionnaire.

[javeds]

TY

[mochi09]

You're welcome