Final answer:
In 1936, a sample chosen from certain lists was not representative of the US population. A low response rate affects the sample's reliability. These problems are examples of sampling error. Quota sampling is a method used in the given scenario.
Step-by-step explanation:
a. The sample chosen from magazine subscription lists, automobile registration lists, phone books, and club membership lists in 1936 was not representative of the population of the United States at that time because it excluded certain segments of the population, such as those who did not have access to these resources or were not part of these lists. This created a biased sample that did not accurately reflect the diversity of the population.
b. A low response rate in a sample can decrease the reliability of the sample. It may introduce selection bias and make the sample less representative of the population. This can lead to inaccurate conclusions and generalizations about the population.
c. These problems are examples of sampling error. Sampling error refers to the differences between the characteristics of a sample and the characteristics of the population it represents. In this case, the sample chosen was not representative of the population, leading to sampling error.
d. Quota sampling is an example of a sampling method described in the module. Quota sampling involves selecting a sample that has the same proportions of characteristics as the population. In this case, the researchers used quota sampling to obtain survey answers from specific subsets of the population, such as prospective voters.