In June 2008, Parade magazine posed the following question:...

In June 2008, Parade magazine posed the following question: “Should drivers be banned from using all cell phones?” Readers were encouraged to vote online at parade.com. The July 13, 2008, issue of Parade reported the results: 2407 (85%) said “Yes” and 410 (15%) said “No.” (a) What type of sample did the Parade survey obtain? (b) Explain why this sampling method is biased. Is 85% probably higher or lower than the true percent of all adults who believe that cell phone use while driving should be banned? Why?

Key Concepts

Sampling Bias

Sampling bias refers to the error that occurs when the sample collected is not representative of the population intended to be analyzed. When the method used to gather data overrepresents certain groups or opinions, it can lead to inaccuracies in estimating the true characteristics of the entire population.

Generalizability of Survey Results

Generalizability concerns whether the findings from a study or survey can accurately be applied to the larger population. When a survey uses a biased or non-random sampling method, its results may not reflect the views or characteristics of the broader community, limiting the applicability of the conclusions drawn.

Voluntary Response Sampling

This is a type of non-probability sampling in which individuals choose to participate, rather than being randomly selected. It typically attracts participants who have strong opinions or interests in the survey topic, meaning that the resulting sample might not accurately represent the broader population.

Self-Selection Bias

Self-selection bias occurs when individuals opt into a survey or study on their own, often because they have strong feelings about the subject. This can skew the results since the views of those who choose not to participate might differ significantly from those who do, leading to biased estimates.

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