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The following two surveys were conducted in January 1991 to assess how the American
Chapter 14, Problem 69(choose chapter or problem)
The following two surveys were conducted in January 1991 to assess how the American public viewed media coverage of the Persian Gulf war. Survey 1 was an Area Code 900 telephone poll survey conducted by ABC News. Viewers were asked to call a certain 900 number if they believed that the media were doing a good job of covering the war and a different 900 number if they believed that the media were not doing a good job in covering the war. Each call cost 50 cents. Of the 60,000 respondents, 83% believed that the media were not doing a good job. Survey 2 was a telephone poll of 1500 randomly selected households across the United States conducted by the Times-Mirror survey organization. In this poll, 80% of the respondents indicated that they approved of the press coverage of the war. (a) Briefly discuss survey 1, indicating any possible types of bias. (b) Briefly discuss survey 2, indicating any possible types of bias. (c) Can you explain the discrepancy between the results of the two surveys? (d) In your opinion, which of the two surveys gives the more reliable data?
Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
The following two surveys were conducted in January 1991 to assess how the American public viewed media coverage of the Persian Gulf war. Survey 1 was an Area Code 900 telephone poll survey conducted by ABC News. Viewers were asked to call a certain 900 number if they believed that the media were doing a good job of covering the war and a different 900 number if they believed that the media were not doing a good job in covering the war. Each call cost 50 cents. Of the 60,000 respondents, 83% believed that the media were not doing a good job. Survey 2 was a telephone poll of 1500 randomly selected households across the United States conducted by the Times-Mirror survey organization. In this poll, 80% of the respondents indicated that they approved of the press coverage of the war. (a) Briefly discuss survey 1, indicating any possible types of bias. (b) Briefly discuss survey 2, indicating any possible types of bias. (c) Can you explain the discrepancy between the results of the two surveys? (d) In your opinion, which of the two surveys gives the more reliable data?
ANSWER:Step 1 of 3
(a) The fact participants had to participate indicates that News Organization A's survey is subject to selection bias. Only participants who were willing to pay 50 cents to call them were studied. If a participant must pay to give his opinion, the data would likely represent only the extreme views of people who cared enough to call and be heard. Those with more moderate views or those who are indifferent to the situation would be less likely to participate.