Statistics: Chap. 1.5 - Bias in Sampling

open question

A question for which the respondent is free to choose his or her response.

closed question

A question for which the respondent must choose from a list of predetermined responses.

sampling error

Error that results from using a sample to estimate information about a population. This type of error occurs because a sample gives incomplete information about a population.

nonsampling error

Errors that result from undercoverage, nonresponse bias, response bias, or data-entry error.

response bias

Exists when the answers in a survey do not reflect the true feelings of the respondent.

bias

If the results of the sample are not representative of the population.

nonresponse bias

Occurs when individuals selected to be in the sample who do not respond to the survey have different opinions from those who do.

undercoverage

Occurs when the proportion of one segment of the population is lower in a sample than it is in the population.

sampling bias

The technique used to obtain the individuals to be in the sample tends to favor one part of the population over another.