Question

To gather information about the validity of a new standardized test for 10th-grade students

in a particular state, a random sample of 15 high schools was selected from the state. The

new test was administered to every 10th-grade student in the selected high schools. What

kind of sample is this?

a. A simple random sample

b. A stratified random sample

c. A cluster sample

d. A systematic random sample

e. A voluntary response sample

Short answer

The given sample is a cluster sample because cluster sampling separates the population into non-overlapping subgroups (clusters), some of which are then included in the sample.

Step-by-step solution

Given information

We need to identify that the given sample is of which type.

Explanation

A total of $15$high schools were chosen at random, and the exam was given to every 10th grade student at those schools.

If we regard high schools to be a non-overlapping grouping, we randomly picked subgroups and then included the full subgroup in the sample, implying cluster sampling.