Question

1. The Spokesman-Review wants to know the public opinion on the construction of a new library downtown. It is decided that 48 people will be surveyed using a simple random sample. Which of the following will produce a simple random sample?
Number the residents using the latest census data, then use a random number generator to pick 48 people.

Record the opinion of the first 48 people who visit the newspaper's website.

Survey every fourth person who enters the current library until 48 have responded.

Randomly select 48 people from the phone book.

Randomly select 12 people each from the downtown, south hill, northwest, and hillyard parts of the city.

2. The Morning News radio station is interested in predicting the proportion of registered voters who support an increase in the state sales tax. Listeners were asked to go to the station's website and indicate whether they favored an increase in the tax in order to support the State Park system. 1744 listeners logged on and 922 were against the increase. The population of interest is:

All people who listen to the station

The 1744 listeners who logged in and indicated their preference

The 922 listeners who were against the issue

All registered voters

Only the portion of the 1744 listeners who voted that are actually registered to vote

Answer 1

1)
Number the residents using the latest census data, then use a random number generator to pick 48 people.
This is the best way to generate a random, relevant audience.

2) The population of interest consisted of the 1744 listeners that logged in and indicated their preference.