Question

Which of the following is NOT something you should consider when assessing the likely accuracy of public opinion polls?

a. How were the questions worded?
b. How large was the sample size?
c. Was the sample randomly drawn from the population? d. Did every person in the population participate in the poll?

Answer 1

Option (d) 'Did every person in the population participate in the poll?' is not a consideration for poll accuracy since only a statistically significant random sample is needed, not the entire population. Factors like question-wording, sample size, and random sampling are pivotal for reliable polling results.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among several factors to consider when assessing the likely accuracy of public opinion polls, option (d) 'Did every person in the population participate in the poll?' is NOT something that should be considered. This is because it is not feasible or necessary for every person in a population to take part in a poll for it to be accurate. Polls typically utilize random sampling, where each person in the population has an equal chance of being chosen which allows polling companies to make generalizations about the population based on responses from a statistically significant sample size. Other critical factors that impact the reliability of a poll include the way questions are worded, the sample size, and whether the sample is randomly drawn.

Answer 2

When evaluating the accuracy of a public opinion poll, considering question wording, sample size, and random sample selection are crucial, but expecting every person to participate is unrealistic and not a measure of accuracy.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing a public opinion poll's accuracy, there are several factors one should take into account. Questions to consider include: How were the questions worded? to avoid biases, How large was the sample size? to ensure it is representative, and Was the sample randomly drawn from the population? to allow for generalization. However, expecting that every person in the population participates in the poll is not practical, and therefore it is not a criterion for assessing the likely accuracy of public opinion polls.

Pollsters utilize methods such as probability sampling where they choose samples randomly, allowing them to make generalizations about the entire population. These methods must be employed to ensure that the poll is scientifically valid. It is the essence of creating a poll that reflects a true representation of public opinion.