Question

Which of the following actions might result in a biased sample?

Scientists clearly divide an area into quadrats using stakes, string, and spray paint.
Scientists carefully measure quadrats, checking their measurements several times to ensure accuracy.
None of these choices will result in biased samples.
Scientists mark-and-recapture bears in a forest, waiting a year in between captures.

Answer 1

The action that might result in a biased sample is when scientists mark-and-recapture bears in a forest, waiting a year in between captures. Bias can be minimized by using other sampling methods, such as random sampling or stratified sampling.

Step-by-step explanation:

The action that might result in a biased sample is when scientists mark-and-recapture bears in a forest, waiting a year in between captures. This method might introduce bias because it assumes that the bear population remains constant over time, which may not be true. Furthermore, bears that were previously marked may develop a learned aversion to the marking method, affecting the recapture rate. Bias can be minimized by using other sampling methods, such as random sampling or stratified sampling.

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