Question

A Gallup poll in 1993, and most recent 2014 Gallup poll results, indicate that the following percentage of Americans believe in some form of creationism.

A) 5%
B) 25%
C) 40%
D) 60%

Answer 1

The question pertains to Gallup poll results about creationism belief in America. Different poll results may stem from variations in sample size, sampling error, and question wording and context. A critical approach to methodology is essential for accurate comparisons.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question from the student is related to the belief in creationism among Americans at different points in time according to Gallup poll results. To address the student's question about whether to agree with the newspaper's poll reporting that 13 percent of Americans have been diagnosed with a common contagious disease in the last year, it is important to consider several factors that might lead to dissimilar results between polls.

1. Sample Size: A small sample size, like the 76 Americans surveyed by the researchers, may not be representative of the entire population, leading to variance from a larger poll.
2. Sampling Error: Random sampling error can occur, especially with small sample sizes, which might result in a percentage that does not reflect the true value for the entire population.
3. Question Wording and Context: The way questions are phrased and the context in which they are asked can influence how respondents understand and answer the questions, thus affecting poll results.

Considering these aspects, it's advisable to treat poll results with caution and to consider the methodology behind them when comparing different surveys or polls.