Question

What is one disadvantage to selecting a cluster sample to investigate the superintendent's goal?

1) Cluster sampling is usually very expensive to implement and could cost the district too much money.
2) Because every senior in the selected clusters will complete the survey, the sample will be too large to yield accurate results.
3) The schools in the cluster sample might not be representative of the population of seniors.
4) There could be seniors absent from school on the day the survey is given, which could affect the results.

Answer 1

A main disadvantage of cluster sampling is the potential lack of representativeness in the selected sample, which can lead to inaccurate reflection of the entire population's views.

Step-by-step explanation:

One disadvantage of selecting a cluster sample to investigate a superintendent's goal is that the schools in the cluster sample might not be representative of the broader population of seniors. Cluster sampling involves dividing the overall population into clusters, then randomly selecting individuals from within those clusters to participate. If the selected schools have particular characteristics that are not shared across all schools, the results may not provide an accurate reflection of the entire senior population's perspectives.