Eli wants to know which exhibit at a science museum is the most popular. Which is the best group to survey to find this information?the museum staff who set up all of the current exhibitsevery person buying a ticket to the science museumevery fifth person who leaves the museum one afternoona group of classmates

Surveying every fifth person who leaves the museum one afternoon provides a random and representative sample of visitors who have experienced the exhibits. This method is more likely to yield unbiased and accurate information about the most popular exhibit compared to surveying museum staff, all ticket buyers, or a group of classmates.

Supplemental Knowledge

When conducting a survey to determine the popularity of exhibits at a science museum, it’s essential to choose a sample that accurately represents the population of interest. Here are some key concepts:

• Population: The entire group you want to learn about (in this case, all visitors to the science museum).
• Sample: A subset of the population selected for the survey.
• Sampling Methods:
  • Random Sampling: Every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected. This method reduces bias and increases the reliability of results.
  • Systematic Sampling: Selecting every nth person (e.g., every fifth person) from a list or queue. This can be effective if the list/order doesn't introduce bias.
  • Convenience Sampling: Choosing individuals who are easiest to reach (e.g., classmates). This method is often biased and not representative.

Theory in Practice

Imagine you're organizing an event and want to find out which activities attendees enjoyed the most. By resorting only to convenience sampling (ie: asking friends), their opinions might not accurately represent those of all attendees. By conducting random sampling or selecting participants randomly from an enrollment list instead, their viewpoints can help make more informed decisions and guide better-informed strategies.
Market researchers may utilize systematic or random sampling techniques to gather customer preferences data, helping them better understand trends and make strategic product offerings decisions.

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