Question

The article "l'd Like to Buy a Vowel, Drivers Say" (USA Today, August 7,2001 ) speculates that young people prefer automobile names that consist of just numbers and letters and that do not form a word (such as Hyundai's \(\mathrm{XG} 300\), Mazda's \(626,\) and BMW's \(325 \mathrm{i}\) ). The article goes on to state that Hyundai had planned to identify the car that was eventually marketed as the XG300 with the name Concerto, until they determined that consumers hated it and thought that XG300 sounded more "technical" and deserving of a higher price. Do the students at your school feel the same way? Suppose that a list of all the students at your school is available. Describe how you would use the list to select a simple random sample of 150 students. (Hint: see discussion on page 14 on selecting a random sample)

Short answer

To select a simple random sample of 150 students, number each student in the school population from 1 to the total number of students, use a random number generator to select 150 distinct numbers, and then identify the students on the list corresponding to the drawn numbers. These students will be the chosen sample.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Concept of a Simple Random Sample

A simple random sample is a group chosen in a way where every individual in the larger population has an equal chance of being included. It's important to ensure that the method of selection is unbiased to maintain the integrity of the sample.

Preparing the Population List

Assuming there is a complete list of all the students in the school, assign a unique number to each student in the list. The range of these numbers should start from 1 and go up to the total number of students.

Using a Random Number Generator

Use a random number generator to select 150 unique numbers within the range you established in step 2. There are free random number generators available online.

Selecting the Sample

The 150 numbers selected represent the students included in the random sample. Find the corresponding students on the list for the drawn numbers. The identified students form the simple random sample of 150 students.