Final answer:
The statement that surveys are sometimes used to forecast sales is true. Surveys serve both sociological research and marketing needs such as forecasting sales, although respondent accuracy can affect the data quality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Surveys are sometimes used to forecast sales. The statement is true. Surveys are a common tool used not only for sociological research but also for identifying marketing needs and strategies, which can include sales forecasting. While not all surveys are scientifically rigorous as compared to the Nielsen Ratings for television viewership, marketers often use surveys to understand customer behavior, preferences, and intentions, which can provide data crucial for forecasting sales figures.
There is a caveat, however, regarding the reliability of survey data. Respondent accuracy can be a concern since individuals may not always provide truthful answers, possibly due to misremembering or desiring to present themselves in a favorable light. Thus, when using surveys for forecasting sales, it is important for businesses to design surveys carefully, possibly complementing survey data with other market intelligence to improve forecasting accuracy.