Question

In reference to another survey, the president of a company wrote to the Associated Press about a nationwide survey of 1223 subjects. Here is what he wrote: When you or anyone else attempts to tell me and my associates that 1223 persons account for our opinions and tastes here in America, I get mad as hell! How dare you! When you or anyone else tells me that 1223 people represent America, it is astounding and unfair and should be outlawed. The writer of that letter then proceeds to claim that because the sample size of 1223 people represents 120 million people, his single letter represents 98,000 (120 million divided by 1223) who share the same views. Do you agree or disagree with this claim? Write a response that either supports or refutes this claim.

Short answer

The claim of the writer is not completely correct and hence, is refuted.

Individuals are chosen for a survey using the sample random sample method. If the sample size is large enough, this means that the sample is representative of the total population.

According to this argument, the writer's letter represents only his viewpoint because it does not include the opinions of a sufficiently large random sample of people.

Step-by-step solution

Given information

It is given that the president of a company is annoyed with the press because of representing the views of 120 million people based on survey results of a sample of 1223 people.

The president claims that if the tastes of 1223 people represent 120 million people, his letter represents approximately 98,000 people.

Analysis of the claim

The sample of 1223 people represents the views of 120 million people.

The writer of the letter claims that according to the above scenario, his letter represents the following number of people:

A survey selects individuals using the sample random sample method.

This implies that the sample is representative of the entire population if the sample size is sufficient enough.

Thus, the sample of 1223 people represents the entire population of 120 million people.

According to this logic, the writer’s letter represents only his opinion because it does not incorporate the views of a random sample of a sufficient number of people.

Thus, the claim of the writer is refuted.