Question

10
which of the following is most important for getting an accurate measure of public opinion in a survey?
a surveying only cell phone users
b selecting a random sample
c asking leading questions
d contacting only registered voters
e conducting the survey online

Explanation:

• Option A: Surveying only cell - phone users limits the sample to a specific group (those with cell phones), which may not represent the entire public. There could be people without cell phones (e.g., some elderly or low - income individuals) whose opinions are excluded.
• Option B: A random sample is a fundamental concept in statistics. By randomly selecting individuals from the population, each member of the population has an equal chance of being included. This helps to minimize bias and ensures that the sample is representative of the overall public.
• Option C: Leading questions are designed to influence the respondent's answer. For example, “Don't you think that the new policy is a bad idea?” This type of question can skew the results and not give an accurate measure of public opinion.
• Option D: Contacting only registered voters excludes non - registered voters. Non - registered voters may still have valid opinions on public matters, and excluding them creates a biased sample.
• Option E: Conducting the survey online excludes those without internet access. Similar to the cell - phone only survey, this limits the sample to a specific subset of the population (those with internet) and may not be representative.

Answer:

B. Selecting a random sample