Statistics

Identifying and Explaining Types of Sampling Methods

INTRODUCTION

Identifying sampling methods is challenging and many students get these questions at least partially incorrect on the exam. The purpose of this assignment is to help you think through strategies for making these identifications.

DIRECTIONS

To create an annotation, highlight a portion of the text and select the Annotate button. To reply to an annotation, select the Reply button. For each description below

1) Give the type of sampling method that is being described 2) Explain your reasoning – What elements in the description prompted you to choose the method that you

did? 3) Rate your confidence level in your answer on a scale of 1-5, with 1 indicating that you have very low

confidence in your choice and 5 indicating that you have high confidence.

WORKING TOGETHER

This is a group assignment. Here are some tips for how you can work together:  Start the assignment several days before the due date and check back regularly  Be bold – be the first person to leave a comment  Comment on at least 5 of the descriptions  If someone in your group has answered, you can reply by:

 Agreeing and adding to the reasoning for the correct answer  Giving support for a low-confidence answer  Disagreeing and explaining your reasoning  Asking a question

GRADING

Each person in the group will earn an individual grade according to the rubric for this assignment. However, I still expect you to be supportive of the other members of your group. There is no final “submit” button for the tool we are using for this discussion. Essentially, as soon as you open this assignment, it looks like you have made a submission in the gradebook. For this reason, I will wait until after the due date to record grades. After the due date has passed, I will assume that you have completed the assignment, so if you need additional time, you must message me before the due date.

QUESTION

Administrators at Texas A&M University were interested in estimating the percentage of students who are the first in their families to go to college. For each scenario below, identify the type of sampling method used by the university administrators. Options include Census, Cluster Sample, Convenience Sample, Simple Random Sample, Stratified Sample, Systematic Sample, Voluntary Response Sample

1) Select several dormitories (made up of first-year and upper-class students) at random and contact everyone living in the selected dorms.

2) Send every registered student a text containing the survey question.

3) Post a survey on the university website and ask students to fill it out.

4) Using a computer-based list of registered students, contact 200 freshmen, 200 sophomores, 200 juniors, and 200 seniors selected at random from each class.

5) Using a computer-based list of registered students, select one of the first 25 on the list by random and then contact the student whose name is 50 names later, and then every 50 names beyond that.

6) Using a computer-based list of registered students, contact 1000 students at random.

7) Set up a table in the cafeteria every day for a week around breakfast time and ask students to fill out a survey.