Which method of choosing a sample of 10 people from a population of 100 is least likely to result in a random sample?
A) Use a table of random numbers to identify 10 people with the lowest numbers
B) Use telephone numbers to identify 10 people with the lowest numbers
C) Asking for 10 volunteers
D) Picking 10 names from a jar containing all 100 names

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Asking for volunteers introduces bias as only those who are willing to participate will be included in the sample. The other options all have a chance of being random, but using a table of random numbers or picking names from a jar are the most reliable methods. Using telephone numbers to identify people with the lowest numbers may introduce bias if certain area codes or exchanges are more heavily represented in the population.

Which Method of Choosing a Sample of 10 People from a Population