Opinion Research Corporation conducted the 2009 Lemelson-MIT...

Opinion Research Corporation conducted the 2009 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index survey of 501 teens, ages 12-17. The teens were asked what everyday invention they thought would be obsolete in five years. Refer to the graphic "In One Day, Out the Next." a. What is the population? b. How many people were polled? c. What information was obtained from each person? d. Estimate the number of surveyed teens who thought the computer mouse will be obsolete in five years. e. What do you think the "margin of error" of ±4.3 percentage points means? f. How would you use the "margin of error" in estimating the percentage of all teens who thought the computer mouse will be obsolete in five years?

Opinion Research Corporation conducted the 2009 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index survey of 501 teens, ages 12-17. The teens were asked what everyday invention they thought would be obsolete in five years. Refer to the graphic "In One Day, Out the Next."
a. What is the population?
b. How many people were polled?
c. What information was obtained from each person?
d. Estimate the number of surveyed teens who thought the computer mouse will be obsolete in five years.
e. What do you think the "margin of error" of ±4.3 percentage points means?
f. How would you use the "margin of error" in estimating the percentage of all teens who thought the computer mouse will be obsolete in five years?

Key Concepts

Population

The population refers to the entire group of individuals that the survey is intended to represent—in this case, all teens aged 12-17. In a broader context, understanding the population is crucial because survey results aim to make inferences about this larger group, not just those surveyed.

Sample Size

The sample size is the number of individuals actually surveyed from the population. It’s an important concept in research because a properly selected sample allows researchers to infer traits and opinions of the whole population while managing costs and time.

Data Collection

Data collection involves gathering responses from each individual in the sample. In surveys, this means that each person provides answers to the questions posed—in this case, indicating which everyday invention they think will become obsolete. Collecting consistent data is key to ensuring the validity of the survey findings.

Margin of Error

The margin of error is a statistical measure that reflects the extent to which the survey results may differ from the true population values due to sampling variability. It provides a range (e.g., ±4.3 percentage points) within which the actual percentage for the whole population is expected to lie, given a certain level of confidence.

Statistical Estimation

Statistical estimation involves using data from the sample to infer characteristics of the overall population. By calculating sample statistics (like a percentage of respondents holding a certain opinion) and applying the margin of error, researchers can estimate the likely range of the true value for the entire population.

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