Question

Which of the following is a potential source of error? (choose the best answer.)

a. In a survey of frequent fliers age 50 and older, researchers concluded that price does not play a significant role in airline travel because only 25% of the respondents check off price as the most important consideration in determining where and how they travel.

b. A survey of voters finds that most respondents do not like negative political ads that is, advertising by one political candidate that criticizes or exposes secrets about the opponent's dirty laundry.

c. Researchers who must conduct a 45-minute personal interview decide to offer $25 to each respondent because they believe that people who will sell their opinions are more typical than someone who will talk to a stranger for 45 minutes.

Answer 1

The best answer identifying a potential source of error is scenario (a) regarding the survey of frequent fliers age 50 and older, which may suffer from selection bias. Other sources of error in surveys can include the wording of questions and response biases.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most likely source of error in the scenarios provided is the first one: a. In a survey of frequent fliers age 50 and older, researchers concluded that price does not play a significant role in airline travel because only 25% of the respondents check off price as the most important consideration in determining where and how they travel. This scenario presents a potential source of error due to selection bias. This bias occurs because the sample only includes frequent fliers who are age 50 and older, which may not be representative of all airline travelers and may affect the generalization of the survey’s findings. In particular, younger travelers or less frequent fliers may have different considerations for travel, such as price.

Other sources of error in surveys and polls can stem from the way the sample is drawn, the wording of questions, and response bias. For example, as younger populations tend to rely solely on cell phones, surveys conducted via landlines might not reach them, leading to unrepresentative samples. Moreover, the wording of questions can influence responses, as subtle changes can lead to significant changes in opinions or reported behaviors. Respondents may also give inaccurate responses due to social desirability bias or a lack of knowledge about the polling topic.