Identify types of errors in procedures, and how to deal

Solution Preview

TEAM 1

1) For each team, identify all of the types of error that were likely introduced by the data collection process. Discuss why you believe particular procedures produced each type of error you identify.

Team 1 stood in the mall, and solicited people to answer the questionnaire. The main issue is that this data is not collected from a pure random sample of people. Why not? Well, if you look at the people who are in a mall during the day, it might not look like a pure random sample. You might have stay at home moms, seniors, unemployed people... this is not the typical cross section of people in society. Even if you collect data in the evenings, you might not have a pure random sample of people.

They solicited 613 people, and only 227 were in the right age. However, only 143 people answered the questionnaire. Most probably these 143 people are those who have plenty of time on their hands to share their opinions. A busy person would probably refuse to answer the questionnaire for numerous reasons.

Thus, the end sample of people is most probably not an accurate representation of the general population - i.e. the sample is biased. If our sample is biased from the beginning, the results of the data are skewed, and then it makes it difficult to make conclusions and generalizations to the population of Harrisonburg at large.

2) What could have been done to prevent/minimize each type of error by conducting the study differently?

I would have collected the data in a place where there is a better sample of people. For example, if you go to a bank, there are people from all walks of life who go to a bank - old, ...