Chapter 12, Problem 7E

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 consumers union asked all subscribers whether they had used alternative medical treatments and if so whether they had benefited from them. Thus, from this report we can identify that:

The population will be: All US adults.

The population parameter of interest will be: Part of population that has used and benefited from alternative medical treatments.

The sampling frame will be: Consumers Union subscribers - that's who was sampled.

The sample is: Consumers Union subscribers who responded to the survey.

The sampling method including whether or not randomized was employed is: Unspecified, but probably some sort of emailed or mailed questionnaire.

Any potential sources of bias you can detect and any problems you see in generalizing to the population of interest: Non-response bias because people may not respond, and the people who do may not be representative of the population.