Final answer:
The pollster's division of the US into sections accounting for the Northeast's 40% population suggests a representative sampling strategy that considers population distribution and aims for a sample that aligns with the demographic distribution of the nation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a pollster divides the United States into four sections and notes that the Northeast (N) contains 40% of the population, it implies that they are taking into account the population distribution within their sampling strategy. This indicates a care to ensure that the sample is representative of the population at large. To maintain accuracy in the findings, the pollster would need to ensure that each section's proportion of respondents mirrors its share of the overall population. The demographic distribution should also align with the general population's characteristics, such as having nearly a 51 percent representation of females.
A random sampling method is crucial as all individuals within a population should have an equal chance of being chosen, which helps to prevent any regional bias. Modern polling methods often use a combination of phone numbers, including cellular, and demographic data such as zip codes to improve the randomness and representativeness of the sample. The success of political polls particularly depends on their ability to achieve both a random and a representative sample so the results can be generalized to the entire population.