Question
Identify the type of study method described in the following situation and explain whether the sample statistics can be used to make a general conclusion about the population.
A list of students is randomly generated from the school database. Information for every student is entered into the database, and each student has an equally likely chance of being selected. The students selected are asked how much time they spend on household chores each week.
Choose the correct answer below.
A.
Survey; the statistics can be used to make a general conclusion about the population because the sample is randomly generated, and the survey question does not introduce a bias into the study.
B.
Controlled experiment; the statistics of this study can be used to make a general conclusion about the time spent on household chores for these particular students as compared with other students not in the study.
C.
Observational study; the statistics are somewhat unreliable in this study because not all students have an equally likely chance of being selected. Although the data collected cannot be used to make a general conclusion about the entire population, it may still give useful information.
A list of students is randomly generated from the school database. Information for every student is entered into the database, and each student has an equally likely chance of being selected. The students selected are asked how much time they spend on household chores each week.
Choose the correct answer below.
A.
Survey; the statistics can be used to make a general conclusion about the population because the sample is randomly generated, and the survey question does not introduce a bias into the study.
B.
Controlled experiment; the statistics of this study can be used to make a general conclusion about the time spent on household chores for these particular students as compared with other students not in the study.
C.
Observational study; the statistics are somewhat unreliable in this study because not all students have an equally likely chance of being selected. Although the data collected cannot be used to make a general conclusion about the entire population, it may still give useful information.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is:
**A. Survey; the statistics can be used to make a general conclusion about the population because the sample is randomly generated, and the survey question does not introduce a bias into the study.**
### Explanation:
In this situation, a survey method is employed where a random sample of students is selected from a larger population (the school's student database). This method ensures that each student has an equal chance of being selected, minimizing selection bias.
Since the sample is randomly generated, the statistics obtained from this survey can be generalized to the broader population of students in the school. The methodology implies that the responses regarding the time spent on household chores are likely to reflect the overall trend or average in the entire student population, as it avoids systematic bias.
In contrast, the other options (B and C) do not accurately describe the study. Option B suggests a controlled experiment, which this scenario is not, as there is no control group or manipulation of variables. Option C categorizes the study as an observational study and incorrectly asserts that not all students have an equal chance of being selected, which is not true in this case given the random selection process.
**A. Survey; the statistics can be used to make a general conclusion about the population because the sample is randomly generated, and the survey question does not introduce a bias into the study.**
### Explanation:
In this situation, a survey method is employed where a random sample of students is selected from a larger population (the school's student database). This method ensures that each student has an equal chance of being selected, minimizing selection bias.
Since the sample is randomly generated, the statistics obtained from this survey can be generalized to the broader population of students in the school. The methodology implies that the responses regarding the time spent on household chores are likely to reflect the overall trend or average in the entire student population, as it avoids systematic bias.
In contrast, the other options (B and C) do not accurately describe the study. Option B suggests a controlled experiment, which this scenario is not, as there is no control group or manipulation of variables. Option C categorizes the study as an observational study and incorrectly asserts that not all students have an equal chance of being selected, which is not true in this case given the random selection process.