Final answer:
The method Jolene and Meiko should use to survey students' opinions on uniforms is Random Sampling because it provides an unbiased and representative sample of the population, unlike surveying only friends, one classroom, or athletes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Best Method for Survey Sampling
To make valid conclusions about the 9th grade students' opinion on wearing uniforms, Jolene and Meiko should opt for Random Sampling. This method ensures that each student has an equal chance of being selected, which minimizes bias and provides a representative cross-section of the entire 9th grade population. Surveying only specific groups such as only their friends, students from one classroom, or only athletes would likely introduce bias as these groups may not represent the diverse opinions of the entire grade.
For example, a sample of 100 high school students was taken by selecting equally from all class standings to ensure representativeness. Similarly, when determining the average number of jeans owned by students, selecting participants from a variety of backgrounds is crucial for accurate results. When there's a large population, random samples are practical and often used, such as in presidential elections or quality control in manufacturing.
To create a random sample among the 9th graders, Jolene and Meiko might use a method where each student's name is equally likely to be chosen, like drawing names from a hat or using a random number generator. This stands in contrast to non-random techniques, such as choosing participants based on convenience or personal connections, which can skew results and diminish the survey's credibility.