Random Sampling

For a school project, three students need to produce a sample of students at their school. Which of the following methods leads to a random sample?

• Numbering all the students and produce the sample from a random list of numbers

• Calling for volunteers at the school assembly

• Calling for volunteers via social media

• Asking each of their friends to name three further friend2

Andre wants to survey a random sample of the student body in his school to find out which day after school would work best for students to do volunteer work for a local charity. Which sample would best represent the student body?

• asking twenty students waiting in line for lunch

• asking twenty students on their way to the bus after school

• asking one person from the seventh grade daily for twenty days

• asking one person each from twenty different classrooms during the first class period

Four candidates are running for school president. A random sample of students at the school are surveyed about which of the candidates they are likely to choose. The chart above shows the number of students from the random sample who chose each candidate. A total of 800 students are expected to vote in the election for school president. Based on the information shown in the chart, which election outcome is most likely?

• Rasheed will win with 192 votes.

• Rasheed will win with 189 more votes than he had in the survey

• Janelle will win with 8 more votes than the second-place finisher, Rasheed.

• Janelle will win with 128 more votes than the second-place finisher, Rasheed

Which statement best describes a random sample of all students in a middle school?

• Of all the students who are on the track team, the first three to finish a race are selected.

• Of all the students who are in the drama club, every third student on the roster is selected.

• Of all the students who complete an assignment, the first, third, and tenth students are selected.

• Of all the students who attend a school-wide assembly, those sitting in every third seat are selected.

Select all the options that would produce a random sample.

• Survey the first 50 people that walk in the doors.

• Survey everyone at his jazz band practice.

• Survey two randomly chosen students in every homeroom.

• Assign each student in the school a number, randomly choose 50 numbers, and survey those students.

• Survey every third student that he sees on his walk to school.

Which statement best describes a random sample of all students in a middle school?

• Of all the students who are on the track team, the first three to finish a race are selected.

• Of all the students who are in the drama club, every third student on the roster is selected.

• Of all the students who complete an assignment, the first, third, and tenth students are selected.

• Of all the students who attend a school-wide assembly, those sitting in every third seat are selected.

?

• Thomas should ask 30 students in the eighth grade.

• Thomas should ask 30 of his closest friends.

• Thomas should ask 30 students in the seventh grade.

• Thomas should ask 30 people eating lunch at McDonalds across the street from school.

Derek bought 7 random shirts from each store at the mall. Each store had an equal number of shirts. Is this sample of the shirts sold at the mall likely to be representative?

• Yes

• No

Ana wants to know the average student’s opinion of the tardy policy at her school. Which group of students should she survey in order to achieve the most accurate results?

• 30 of her friends

• 30 randomly selected students in the school

• 30 students who are often tardy

• 30 students who are often on time

Green Valley Middle School conducted a survey of 125 random students asking them how much time they spend each night on homework. Is this a biased sample or unbiased sample?

• Biased Sample

• Unbiased Sample