Question

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Consider the following statistical studies. Which method of data collection would likely be used to collect data for each study? Explain your selection. What is the population of interest?

Would you take a census or use a sampling? Explain. If you would use a sampling, decide what type of sampling technique you would use. Explain your reasoning.

1. A study of the effect of exercise on relieving depression.

2. A study of the success of graduates of a large university in finding a job within one year of graduation.

3. A study of how often people wash their hands in public restrooms.

Answer 1

Answer#1)

The population of interest is the people who face the problem of depression

It is easier to take a sample rather than the complete population census

We can focus on the list of depression patients, and use systematic sampling to ensure that all the patients are included in the sample and they represent the population in the complete manner

Systematic sampling helps to select the sampling units is a periodic order this ensures that the spread of the sample is throughout the span of the population

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Answer#2)

Population of interest is all the students of the large university

For this we can use the entire population of a particular year

It will provide a better analysis of the complete data and help us answer the research question accurately

Census is a better option in this scenario, surveying each student is practically possible for an year

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Answer# 3)

Population of interest is all the people who use public restrooms

It is preferred to go for sampling since the population is very large

If we use sampling the best method is to form clusters based on time, and groups based on gender, or age group and select the units equally for different time periods, genders and age groups

Like this with help of cluster sampling we can get a sample that would best represent the true population of people using the restroom