Advanced Algebra
Collecting Data Task
Name______________________
Directions: You are to research the following topics. Write definitions and examples, when applicable. Read the given
article and answer the questions completely.
Essential Questions:
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What are the different kinds of sampling methods?
What is the appropriate way of choosing samples in context with limiting factors?
How can I recognize and understand bias in sampling methods?
Why is randomness an important concept in the collection of data?
VOCABULARY
I. Define the two branches of statistics:
 Descriptive:
 Inferential:
II. There are two types of data sets:
 What is a population?
 What is a sample?
III. Numerical descriptions are used to describe characteristics of a population or a sample.
 What is a parameter?
 What is a statistic?
IV. What is bias in research and studies? What effect does bias have in the collection of data?
V. What is the difference between qualitative data and quantitative data?
VI. Name 5 different methods in which data is collected:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
 Understanding ways to gather and analyze data using different sampling methods.
 Look for bias in sampling methods and understand the effect bias has in results.
READ THE ARTICLE BELOW.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING ABOUT THE ARTICLE:
1. What claim is being made? What is special about the claim?
2. What questions could the researchers have asked?
3. Can you write two unbiased questions related to the article that researchers might have asked
the subjects of the study?
4. How did bias influence this study?
A source of bias can be found in the sampling technique. Researchers must use unbiased samples.
The sample must be selected at random. There are many types of random samples.
Define the following types of random samples techniques:
 Simple Random Sample
 Systematic Sample
 Stratified Random Sample
 Cluster Sample
 Convenience Sampling
 Voluntary Response Sampling
Which of these techniques lack randomization?
BIAS
Determine whether each study below has a source of bias. If there is a source of bias, describe
the bias and why this bias makes the sample unrepresentative.
a) A medical company uses sick patients to test their competitors’ drugs for side effects
b) A medical company uses healthy patients to test their competitors’ drugs for side effects
c) A newspaper polls 9th grade students to measure if students are going into the Armed
Forces after high school
d) The Department of Education conducts and online poll that asks “Do you have internet
service at home?”
e) A survey is mailed to voters in Augusta asking “Will you vote for the one cent sales tax
increase in Augusta?”
f) A survey is mailed to voters in Augusta who make more than $150,000 a year asking “Will
you vote for the one cent sales tax increase in Augusta?”
SAMPLING TECHNIQUES
For each experiment, determine which sampling technique would be most appropriate.
Explain how you would obtain a sample and why the technique you chose was appropriate.
a) A company wants to decide who likes wheat bread more, men or women
b) A newspaper wants to determine which areas of town have the least number of subscriptions
c) You want to estimate the number of people in your school who are vegans.
d)You want to determine whether 9th graders or 12th graders are more likely to be vegans.
e) The Department of Children Services wants to count the number of homeless children in a city.
They only have enough counters to cover one-sixth of the city.
f) A manufacturer wants to test the taste of their frozen vegetables as the bags of vegetables
come out of a freezer.