Chapter 12.5, Problem 21P

Determine whether each question is biased. Explain your answer.

An ice cream store owner wants to determine whether a new flavor, cafe mocha, would be popular with his customers. How could each factor below cause bias in the survey results?

1. The owner interviews customers outside a local coffee shop.
2. The owner interviews his adult customers.
3. The owner asks, 'Which flavor would you prefer: cafe mocha or chocolate?'

To determine

Determine whether each statement is biased.

Answer to Problem 21P

Biased

Explanation of Solution

Given:

An icecream store owner wants to determine whether a new flavor, café mocha , would be popular with his customers .The owner interviews customers outside a local coffee shop.

Calculation:

Since coffee shop customers are coffee lovers, they would definitely vote in favor of the flavor , café mocha . So, the result is biased.

To determine

Determine whether each statement is biased.

Answer to Problem 21P

Biased

Explanation of Solution

Given:

An icecream store owner wants to determine whether a new flavor, café mocha , would be popular with his customers .The owner interviews his adult customers.

Calculation:

Since adult customers will want to try new flavor , so they likely will be in favor of the new flavor .So, the result is biased.

To determine

Determine whether each statement is biased.

Answer to Problem 21P

Biased

Explanation of Solution

Given:

An icecream store owner wants to determine whether a new flavor, café mocha , would be popular with his customers .He asks , “Which flavor would you prefer : café mocha or chocolate?”

Calculation:

Since most of the people have not tasted the café mocha flavor , so most likely the people will vote in favor of café mocha. So, the result will be biased.