A statistician needs to survey a sample of 50 people that is representative of voters in his community. He prepared a list of phone numbers of 50 randomly selected, expected voters. Next morning, he came to work at 8:00 and began to make calls. By 11:00 a.m., his survey was done. Don't discuss what is not said. Discuss what is wrong with what is said.

Question

A statistician needs to survey a sample of 50 people that is representative of voters in his community.  He prepared a list of phone numbers of 50 randomly selected, expected voters.  Next morning, he came to work at 8:00 and began to make calls.  By 11:00 a.m., his survey was done.  Don't discuss what is not said.  Discuss what is wrong with what is said.

PsyDAG · Answer

How does he find a population to make random choices from? Who has phones that are listed in the phone book? Even more problematic, who doesn't, so the sample will be biased? People without phones? Unlisted numbers? Cell phones?