Chapter 12, Problem 9E

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 researchers waited outside a bar they had randomly selected from a list of such establishments. They stopped every tenth person who came out of the bar and asked whether he or she thought drinking and driving was a serious problem. Thus, from this report we can identify that:

The population will be: All adults.

The population parameter of interest will be: Proportion who think drinking and driving is a serious problem.

The sampling frame will be: Bar patrons.

The sample is: Every tenth person leaving the bar.

The sampling method including whether or not randomized was employed is: Systematic sampling.

Any potential sources of bias you can detect and any problems you see in generalizing to the population of interest: Those interviewed had just left a bar and would likely think that drinking and driving is less of a problem than the general population would.