Understanding Bias in Polling

A senator conducted a poll to gauge internet privacy concerns by calling 100 people from a phone book. The poll showed 42% were very concerned. The video discusses potential biases, focusing on undercoverage bias due to the exclusion of unlisted and mobile numbers, which likely leads to an underestimate of privacy concerns. Nonresponse and volunteer response biases are also considered but found irrelevant in this context.

What method did the senator use to gather opinions on internet privacy?

• Online survey

• Phone calls from a phone book

• In-person interviews

• Mail-in questionnaire

Why is nonresponse bias not a concern in this poll?

• The poll was conducted online.

• All selected individuals were contacted until they responded.

• The sample size was too small.

• The poll was conducted in person.

How did the senator ensure responses from all selected individuals?

• By conducting follow-up interviews

• By sending reminders via email

• By repeatedly calling until they answered

• By offering incentives

What is undercoverage bias?

• Bias from using outdated information

• Bias from sampling too many people

• Bias from incorrect data entry

• Bias from not sampling the entire population

What population was excluded due to undercoverage?

• People with internet access

• People with listed landlines

• People with mobile phones only

• People living in rural areas

Why might the poll's results underestimate the concern for internet privacy?

• Because it included too many respondents

• Because it only included people listed in the phone book

• Because it was conducted during a holiday

• Because the poll was conducted online

What is a potential consequence of undercoverage in polling?

• Overestimating the concern for privacy

• Underestimating the concern for privacy

• Increased response rate

• Accurate representation of the population

What is volunteer response sampling?

• Sampling where participants are randomly selected

• Sampling where participants volunteer to respond

• Sampling where participants are paid to respond

• Sampling where participants are selected based on age

Which of the following is NOT a source of bias discussed in the video?

• Undercoverage bias

• Nonresponse bias

• Sampling error

• Volunteer response bias

What is the main focus of the video?

• The importance of internet privacy

• The role of senators in policy making

• The methods of conducting polls

• The sources and implications of bias in polling