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All courses Algebra II · S-IC.3 49 of 55
Distinguish sample surveys, experiments, and observational studies; explain randomization in each.

Recognize a sample survey

Problem
Is this study a sample survey: poll asks \(800\) adults their opinion, no treatment assigned?
Your answer
Show answer choicesHide answer choices Work through the mathematics first, then compare your reasoning.Select the answer that matches your work.
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Hint

Look for whether the study only asks people questions or actually assigns them to a treatment.

A sample survey gathers information from a sample without imposing a treatment.

Solution walkthrough

01

Identify how information is collected

\[800~\text{adults}~\text{are}~\text{asked}~\text{for}~\text{their}~\text{opinions}\]

The researchers obtain responses from a sample of people.

02

Check for an imposed treatment

\[\text{treatment}~\text{assigned}=\text{no}\]

No condition or intervention is assigned to the adults.

03

Match the defining features

\[\text{sample}~+~\text{questions}~+~\text{no}~\text{treatment}~->~\text{sample}~\text{survey}\]

A sample survey asks sampled individuals questions without imposing treatments.

04

Classify the study

\[\text{sample}~\text{survey}\]

The poll is a sample survey because it records opinions from 800 adults and assigns no treatment.

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Another way

  1. Use the design question: were people asked questions, merely observed, or assigned a treatment? Here they were asked questions.

!

Common mistake

Do not call every study without a treatment an observational study; asking a sample direct questions specifically makes this a sample survey.

Solution walkthrough video