Near the end of a US cable news show, the host invited viewers to respond to a poll on the show's website that asked, "Do you support the new federal policy discussed during the show?" At the end of the show, the host reported that 28% responded "Yes," and 70% responded "No." Which of the following best explains why the results are unlikely to represent the sentiments of the population of the United States?
Correct answer: B. Those who responded to the poll were not a random sample of the population of the United States.
- A. The percentages do not add up to 100%, so any possible conclusions from the poll are invalid.
- B. Those who responded to the poll were not a random sample of the population of the United States.
- C. A balanced 50% "Yes" and 50% "No" response was not achieved.
- D. The show did not provide enough time for viewers to respond to the poll.
Explanation
The correct answer is that the respondents to the poll were not randomly selected from the population of the United States. In order for a poll's results to accurately reflect the sentiments of the entire population, the sample must be representative. This is typically achieved through random sampling. In this scenario, the poll only reached individuals who had access to the show and chose to participate, introducing potential bias and lack of representation. The other options are incorrect as they do not address the issue of sample representativeness. Discrepancies in percentage totals, achieving a 50/50 split, or the time allowed to respond do not inherently affect whether the sample is representative of the broader population.
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Quantitative reasoning applies arithmetic and basic algebra to numerical relationships, including percentages, ratios, averages, fractions, proportions, profit and loss, rates, time, work and measurement. Questions focus on translating words into equations, choosing an efficient method and checking whether the result is numerically reasonable.
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