Question

Suppose that a sociologist desires to study the religious habits of 20 -year- old males in the United States. He draws a sample from the 20 -year-old males of a large city to make his study. Describe the sampled and target populations. What problems arise in drawing conclusions from this data?

Short answer

The sampled population consists of 20-year-old males from a large city, while the target population is all 20-year-old males in the United States. Potential problems in drawing conclusions from this data include bias in the sample, sample size, variability within the population, and the sampling method. The sociologist must be cautious when generalizing results and consider these factors to ensure accurate and applicable conclusions for the target population.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Sampled Population

The sampled population refers to the group of people from which the sociologist is collecting data for his study. In this case, the sampled population is 20-year-old males from a large city.

Definition of Target Population

The target population is the group of people about whom the sociologist wants to make conclusions based on the study. The target population is 20-year-old males in the United States.

Potential Problems in Drawing Conclusions

Now, let's discuss the potential problems that arise when drawing conclusions from the data collected: 1. **Bias in the sample**: If the sampled population is not an accurate representation of the target population, the conclusions drawn from the sample might not apply to the target population. Drawing the sample only from a large city might not capture the diversity of 20-year-old males in terms of their religious habits in the United States. 2. **Sample size**: The size of the sample is also an important factor. A small sample size is likely to produce less reliable results compared to a larger sample size. The sociologist should ensure that the sample size is appropriate to make generalizations from the sampled population to the target population. 3. **Variability within the population**: Religious habits of 20-year-old males in the United States might vary significantly across regions, socioeconomic status, or other demographic factors. The sociologist must account for these factors in their study to ensure that their conclusions are accurate and applicable to the target population. 4. **Sampling method**: The method used to select the sample can also influence the results. A random sampling method tends to minimize the likelihood of bias, but other sampling methods, such as convenience sampling or purposive sampling, can introduce bias into the study. In summary, the sociologist needs to be cautious in generalizing the results of the study based on data collected from 20-year-old males in a large city to the entire population of 20-year-old males in the United States. The potential for bias, sample size, and variability can all affect the validity of the conclusions drawn from the data.