Question

A random sample of adults in a large us city responded to a series of questions about their use of public transportation. the results of the survey showed that 520 of the 838 adults in the sample (62%) have used public transportation in the past week. how might the results of the survey be biased in obtaining an estimate of all us residents who use public transportation

Answer 1

The results of the survey may be biased in estimating the proportion of US residents who use public transportation due to sampling bias, non-response bias, and social desirability bias.

Step-by-step explanation:

The results of the survey about the use of public transportation in a large US city may be biased in estimating the proportion of US residents who use public transportation. This bias can occur due to various factors:

• Sampling bias: The sample used for the survey may not be representative of the entire US population. For example, if the survey was conducted only in urban areas, it may underestimate the proportion of US residents who use public transportation.
• Non-response bias: If a large number of people in the sample did not respond to the survey, it could lead to biased results. For instance, if those who use public transportation were less likely to respond, the survey might underestimate the actual proportion of US residents who use public transportation.
• Social desirability bias: Some respondents may provide inaccurate information to present themselves in a more positive light, which can affect the accuracy of the survey results.

It is important to consider these biases when interpreting the survey results and making inferences about the entire US population.

Answer 2

The survey from a large US city might be biased if it overrepresents city residents' public transportation usage and does not account for the broader US population's diverse transportation habits, possibly due to location and sampling methodology.

Step-by-step explanation:

The finding that 62% of a random sample of adults in a large US city have used public transportation in the past week might be biased as it does not necessarily represent all US residents. Several factors can contribute to this potential bias. One key factor is the location of the sample. A large city is more likely to have a developed and frequently used public transportation system compared to rural areas or smaller towns. Thus, the sample could overestimate public transportation use for the entire US population. Another potential source of bias is the survey methodology. If certain groups of people are more or less likely to respond to the survey, such as those with a particular interest in public transportation, the results may not accurately reflect the broader population's usage. Additionally, how the sample is selected and whether the sample size is sufficiently large and diverse can also impact the representativeness of the survey results.