Question

20/20 survey exposé. Refer to the "Statistics in Action" box of this chapter (p. 25). Recall that the popular prime-time ABC television program 20/20 presented several misleading (and possibly unethical) surveys in a segment titled "Fact or Fiction? —Exposés of So-Called Surveys." The information reported from two of these surveys and several others is listed here (actual survey facts are provided in parentheses).

• Quaker Oats study: Eating oat bran is a cheap and easy way to reduce your cholesterol count. (Fact: Diet must consist of nothing but oat bran to achieve a slightly lower cholesterol count.)

• March of Dimes report: Domestic violence causes more birth defects than all medical issues combined. (Fact: No study—false report.)

• American Association of University Women (AAUW) study: Only 29% of high school girls are happy with themselves, compared to 66% of elementary school girls. (Fact: Of 3,000 high school girls, 29% responded, "Always true" to the statement "I am happy the way I am." Most answered, "Sort of true" and "Sometimes true.”)

• Food Research and Action Center study: One in four American children under age 12 is hungry or at risk of hunger. (Fact: Based on responses to questions: "Do you ever cut the size of meals?" "Do you ever eat less than you feel you should?" and "Did you ever rely on limited numbers of foods to feed your children because you were running out of money to buy food for a meal?")

• McKinsey survey on the health reform act: Thirty percent of employers would "definitely" or "probably" stop offering health coverage to their employees if the government-sponsored act is passed. (Fact: Employers were asked leading questions that made it seem logical for them to stop offering insurance. For example, respondents were told that the new health insurance exchanges would become "an easy, affordable way for individuals to obtain health insurance" outside the company. Then they were given examples of how little their workers would pay for this insurance. Only then were they asked how likely they would be to stop offering health insurance.)

a. Refer to the Quaker Oats study relating oat bran to cholesterol levels. Discuss why it is unethical to report the results as stated.

b. Consider the false March of Dimes report on domestic violence and birth defects. Discuss the type of data required to investigate the impact of domestic violence on birth defects. What data-collection method would you recommend?

c. Refer to the AAUW study of self-esteem of high school girls. Explain why the results of the study are likely to be misleading. What might data be appropriate for assessing the self-esteem of high school girls?

d. Refer to the Food Research and Action Center study of hunger in America. Explain why the results of the study are likely to be misleading. What data would provide insight into the proportion of hungry American children?

e. Refer to the McKinsey survey on the health reform act. Explain what a "leading question" is and why it might produce responses that bias the results.

Short answer

1. Customers believe they are capable of achieving near-impossible feats.
2. A planned study would be the most exact data-collection technique to guarantee that domestic violence is the only cause of congenital disabilities. Still, such research would be hard to procure approval for.
3. A qualitative data collection encompassing a broad typical spectrum of discontent would be the best data for gauging high school female self-esteem.
4. Data from a survey with an acceptable scale of food eaten as well as household income would be most helpful in measuring the values of American youngsters who are hungry.
5. A "leading question" encourages the reader to answer in the manner desired by the inquiry.

Step-by-step solution

Unethical report

This article is unethical and deceptive since the study's findings (a little reduced cholesterol score) neglect to specify that the meals can ONLY comprise Quaker Oat bran and no other meals. As a consequence, customers feel they can accomplish near-impossible achievements.

Data collection method

The sort of data needed to explore the effects of domestic violence on baby abnormalities would most probably be quantitative, with a look at how numerous birth problems are linked to victims of domestic abuse. The most precise data-collection strategy would be a planned experiment to ensure that domestic abuse is the only reason for birth abnormalities. However, a study would be difficult to obtain clearance for.

Self-esteem of high school girls

The AAUW based its estimated percentage on whether the girls were content with themselves all of the moment, most of the period, or part of the time; the findings of this research are likely to be deceptive. Happiness is measured on a scale; nevertheless, the findings indicated that the girls were dissatisfied with their looks, while in fact, the majority of the girls were just somewhat dissatisfied. A qualitative data set spanning a broad representative range of dissatisfaction would be the finest data for measuring the self-esteem of high school females.

Proportion of hungry American children

The study's findings are likely to be deceptive since the first two questions, "Do you ever cut the number of meals?" and "Do one's ever eaten less than one's think might have to?" are insufficiently detailed to conclude that one in every four American youngsters is hungry or at danger of starvation. Furthermore, each person has their own proper portion size. Data from a survey with an adequate scale of food consumed and family income would be most useful in determining the percentage of hungry American children.

Response produces those biased findings

A "leading question" urges the reader to respond in the manner the question desires. There is obvious bias in the McKinsey study owing to a leading question since all of the data and details provided before the query of whether firms would cease supplying health care to their workers are in favor of employers discontinuing healthcare coverage offerings.