Question

answer in the most simplest
Jared is interested in finding out which of two types of soda are preferred by ​students at his school.
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​Explain how he can randomly choose fifty students to ​participate in a survey or an experiment.
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​Then describe how both a survey ​and an experiment can be designed for the purpose of answering his ​question.

Answer 1

Here’s a simple, step-by-step way Jared can do this.

1) How to randomly choose 50 students
- Get a complete list of all students at the school (or the group he wants to study), each with a unique number.
- Use a random method to pick 50 different numbers:
- Option A: Use an online random number generator or the “RAND” function in a spreadsheet to pick 50 numbers.
- Option B: Put all names on slips of paper, mix them, and draw 50 slips.
- If he wants to make sure grades or classes are fairly represented, he can do a stratified sample: split students by grade (or class), then randomly pick a proportionate number from each grade.

2) Designing a survey (simple, low-cost)
- Invite the 50 randomly chosen students to answer one question: “Which do you prefer: Soda A or Soda B?” (Allow “No preference” if needed.)
- Make the responses anonymous and short (paper or online), so students answer honestly.
- Count how many choose A, B, or no preference. The soda with more votes is the preferred soda in this sample.
- Note potential limits: survey measures stated preference (what people say), not always what they choose after tasting.

3) Designing an experiment (better control, taste-based)
- Use the same 50 randomly chosen students.
- Prepare identical unlabeled cups: one contains Soda A, the other Soda B. Serve the same amount and temperature for each.
- To avoid order effects, randomize which soda each student tastes first (half taste A then B, half B then A), or give both at once in unlabeled cups.
- Make it blind: students should not know brand names—only taste.
- Have each student indicate which soda they prefer (A or B) right after tasting. Record results anonymously.
- Count votes for A and B. The soda with more votes is preferred in this taste test.
- Optional improvements: give water/crackers between tastes to cleanse the palate, use double-blind procedure so the server also doesn’t know which cup is which.

Quick note on results
- For both survey and experiment, compare the counts (and percentages) for A and B. The experiment (blind taste test) usually gives a more reliable measure of actual taste preference because it removes brand and expectation effects.