Chapter 12, Problem 11E

To determine

To identify for the following reports about the statistical studies, the population, the population parameter of interest, the sampling frame, the sample, the sampling method including whether or not randomized was employed and any potential sources of bias you can detect and any problems you see in generalizing to the population of interest.

Explanation of Solution

It is given in the question that the environmental protection agency took soil samples at $16$ locations near a former industrial waste dump and checked each for evidence of toxic chemicals. Thus, from this report we can identify that:

The population will be: Soil around a former waste dump.

The population parameter of interest will be: Concentrations of toxic chemicals.

The sampling frame will be: Accessible soil around dump.

The sample is: $16$ soil samples.

The sampling method including whether or not randomized was employed is: It is unclear from the report.

Any potential sources of bias you can detect and any problems you see in generalizing to the population of interest: It is uncertain if soil samples were randomly chosen.