Question

decide whether the following statement makes sense (or is clearly true) or does not make sense (or is clearly false). explain your reasoning.
i followed all the guidelines for sample selection carefully, but my sample still did not reflect the characteristics of the population.
choose the correct answer below.
a. the statement makes sense because even if a sample is chosen in the best possible way, it may not be representative of the population by random chance.
b. the statement does not make sense because a sample that follows all guidelines would most likely result in a sample that reflects the characteristics of the population.
c. the statement makes sense because samples rarely reflect the characteristics of the population.
d. the statement does not make sense because samples always reflect the characteristics of the population.

Explanation:

Sampling is a process that involves randomness. Even when all guidelines for sample selection (like random sampling techniques) are followed, due to the nature of random chance (sampling variability), a sample might not perfectly reflect the population. For example, in a simple random sample of students' test scores from a large school population, by pure luck, the sample could have a higher proportion of high - scoring students than the actual population.

Answer:

A. The statement makes sense because even if a sample is chosen in the best possible way, it may not be representative of the population by random chance.