Question

3. Are the following polls accurate or misleading? Identify the good and bad polling techniques. (16 points) a. "Eighty-nine percent of Americans like to eat hamburgers." — poll taken of 300 people outside McDonald's at lunchtime b. "Seventy-five percent of commuters are too busy to answer poll questions." — poll taken of 500 people in front of the train station during rush hour c. "Only two percent of Americans know whom Britney Spears married." — poll taken of 65 residents at the Shady Rest Retirement Home d. "Only 33 percent of those visiting the public library come to borrow books." — poll taken of 1,000 people using the Philadelphia Free Library over a period of three weeks, at different times of day

Answer 1

good

"Eighty-nine percent of Americans like to eat hamburgers.

seventy-five percent of commuters are too busy to answer poll questions.

"Only 33 percent of those visiting the public library come to borrow books

Only two percent of Americans know whom Britney Spears married."

bad

poll taken of 300 people outside McDonald's at lunchtime

poll taken of 500 people in front of the train station during rush hour

poll taken of 65 residents at the Shady Rest Retirement Home

poll taken of 1,000 people using the Philadelphia Free Library over a period of three weeks, at different times of day

Answer 2

A) Accurate poll. It is a good polling technique since it correctly provides with the figure.

B) Misleading Poll. It is a bad polling technique since it was taken during the rush hour and people were in a hurry so how could they have answered!

C) Misleading Poll. It is a bad polling technique. Shady Rest Retirement home is an old home so how can the old people know of a celebrity of this era keeping away from the TV and else and how can you judge whole of the "Americans" on the basis of "Old People".

D) Accurate Poll. It is a good polling technique, Since it is at different times and sticks to what it is polling.