Hattie Burford

MATH 535 Sampling Techniques

Dr. Stack
Fall 2017 Final

1. The Department of Agriculture wants to estimate the number of acres oriented in corn within the state of
Nebraska. Which of the following would be an appropriate sampling unit and sampling frame?

A. The sampling frame would be the list of farms in the county; sampling unit would be the counties.
B. The sampling frame would be the counties; sampling unit would be the list of farms in the county.
C. The sampling frame would be the individual farms; sampling unit would be the list of farms in the
county.
D. The sampling frame would be the list of farms in each county; the sampling unit would be an individual
farm.

2. If you have drawn a simple random sample of size n, from a population of size N, and have calculated
the sample mean, y-bar, the estimate for the population total is:

A. y-bar/N
B. N* y-bar
C. N/y-bar
D. y-bar*n
E. none of these is correct for a simple random sample estimate

3. Which is true when comparing a stratified sample and a simple random sample?

A. Estimates of population parameters for population subgroups may also be desired and will be
computed in completing the analysis for stratified samples.
B. The bound on the error of estimation is smaller with a simple random sample.
C. Every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected when completing a
stratified sample and thus will give a better estimate.
D. In estimating a total, knowing the population size is not required when using a stratified sample.
E. All of the above
Hattie Burford
MATH 535 Sampling Techniques
Dr. Stack
Fall 2017 Final

4. Systematic sampling would be expected to give a representative sample using which of the following:

A. A list of classroom numbers. Systematically sample classrooms and then sample all students in the
classroom.
B. An alphabetic of all teachers in the school. Systematically sample teachers and then sample all students
in the teacher’s period 1 class.
C. An alphabetic list of all students in the school. Systematically sample from the list of students.

D. All of the above would result in a representative sample.

E. None of the above would result in a representative sample.

5. A researcher wants to study how aware city residents are of current mall shopping promotions. She has
developed a brief quiz and wants to estimate the average score residents would score. The researcher has
decided to complete a single-stage cluster sample.

A. The researcher would randomly select city blocks and sample all residents in the block by giving them
a copy of the quiz to complete.
B. The researcher would randomly select city blocks and randomly sample all residents in the block by
giving them a copy of the quiz to complete.
C. The researcher would randomly select telephone numbers from the local phone book and call and give
the quiz to the person answering the phone.
D. The researcher would randomly select city blocks from the different districts in the community and
randomly sample all residents in the block by giving them a copy of the quiz to complete.
E. None of the above would result in a single-stage cluster sample.

6. One reason for using interpenetrating subsamples is:

A. To develop a value to use for one that is missing.

B. To obtaining accurate information on sensitive questions.
C. To reduce the effect of non-response bias.
D. To minimize the impact of interviewer judgment on recording answers.
Hattie Burford
MATH 535 Sampling Techniques
Dr. Stack
Fall 2017 Final

7. Suppose you have two estimators, E1 and E2, for a population parameter. If you compute z =
Var(E1)/Var(E2), z is called _____.

A. Inverse estimation.
B. Ratio estimation.
C. Relative efficiency.
D. Response error.

8. A researcher is studying state government. She has selected a random sample of 20 states. Then from the
20 state legislatures has selected a random sample of 15 state representatives. This is an example of
_____.

A. Two-stage simple random sampling

B. Stratified random sampling
C. Two – stage cluster sampling
D. Single – stage cluster sampling
E. Systematic sampling
F. None of the above.

9. Inverse sampling gives more precise estimates than does direct sampling when _____.

A. The second sample size, n, required to recapture s tagged individuals is large relative to the population
size , N.
B. The second sample size, n, required to recapture s tagged individuals is small relative to the population
size , N.
C. Nothing is known about the relationship between the second sample size, n, required to recapture s
tagged individuals relative to the population size , N.
D. The density of the item of interest is low, generally less than 1.
E. None of the above is correct.
Hattie Burford
MATH 535 Sampling Techniques
Dr. Stack
Fall 2017 Final

10. Non-response adjustments typically _____.

A. Decrease the sampling error of the estimate.

B. Use methods similar to cluster sampling techniques.
C. Require information about the overall population distribution.
D. None of the above is correct.

11. If data shows a periodic structure, a systematic sample may be better than a simple random sample to
estimate means or totals.

True
False

12. One reason to consider sampling techniques other than simple random sampling is to reduce costs.

True
False

13. When estimating population density using quadrat samples, the quadrats must be of the same size.

True
False

14. A ratio estimator is a biased estimator, but the bias is minimal if the correlation is close to zero.

True
False
Hattie Burford
MATH 535 Sampling Techniques
Dr. Stack
Fall 2017 Final

15. Suppose a simple random sample of n people is selected for a poll. The population from which the
sample taken is approximately evenly divided between men and women, or p is approximately equal to
0.5. After all have been interviewed, it was noted that there were n1 = 70 men and n2 = 30 female
respondents. To make an estimate for the population mean, the researcher completes the analysis by
assuming that the men and women are different strata. This technique would give an appropriate
estimate for the mean, but would have a slightly different variance than if the population had been
separated into strata prior to selecting the sample.

True
False

16. Strata are defined by a spatial proximity (such as a city block) and clusters are defined by a
characteristic (such as income level).

True
False

17. In designing a questionnaire, the researcher should consider the order of possible responses. According
to the author, if a respondent must choose items from a long written list, items appearing toward the
bottom of the list have a selection advantage.

True
False

18. The finite population correction (fpc) is used when the sample size, n, is small in comparison with the
population size, N.

True
False

19. Ratio estimators require the collection of data on two variables an x and y on each element in the
sample.

True
False
Hattie Burford
MATH 535 Sampling Techniques
Dr. Stack
Fall 2017 Final

20. Two-stage cluster sampling requires that each cluster be the same, or approximately the same, size.

True
False

21. This course is MATH 435/535

True
False

22. A stratified sampling technique with proportional allocation is to be used. The three strata contain N1 =
100, N2 = 50, and N3 = 25 individuals. Give the number of individuals sampled from each strata (n1,
n2, n3) with a total sample of 35.

100
𝑛1 = 35 ∗ = 20
175
50
𝑛2 = 35 ∗ = 10
175
25
𝑛3 = 35 ∗ =5
175

23. A catering company is thinking of offering a lunch wagon in a high rise building. To determine the
potential market, they want to know the total number of lunches that are brought to the workplace. A
study is conducted to estimate the average number of brown-bag lunches (i.e. pack a lunch) per month
for workers in a high-rise office building. A simple random sample of 30 people is selected from the 400
in the building. While conducting interviews, the researcher finds that some of the individuals are not
appropriate for study because they are part time workers and only work mornings or afternoons. Of the
30 sampled, 25 are appropriate for the study.
The data collected for the 25 people resulted in a mean of 240/25 = 9.6 days per month and a standard
deviation of 5.24 (variance = 27.4576).
Estimate the total number of brown bag lunches for a month in this high-rise. Place a bound on the error
of estimation.

𝑛 = 25
𝑁 = 400
𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑛 = 9.6 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 5.24
𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 27.4576
Hattie Burford
MATH 535 Sampling Techniques
Dr. Stack
Fall 2017 Final

The total number of brown bag lunches for a month:

𝜏 = 𝑁𝑦̅ = 400(9.6) = 3840 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑏𝑎𝑔 𝑙𝑢𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ

Variance of the estimate:

𝑛 𝑠2 27.4576 25
𝑉(𝜏) = 𝑁 (1 − ) ( ) = 4002 (
2
) (1 − ) = 164745.6
𝑁 𝑛 25 400

Bound on the error of estimation:

𝐵 = 2√𝑉(𝜏) = 2√164745.6 = 811.7773

Therefore, we are 95% confident that the true total number of brown bag lunches for a month in high rise is
3840 ± 811.7773.

24. A researcher wants to estimate the total number of military people residing in a city near a military base.
The researcher decides to sample city blocks and then sample households within the city block. Five
blocks are randomly selected from the 500 in the city.

Number of Number of military Standard

Number of Average of
Block households residents per Deviation, of
households row data
sampled household row data
1 12 4 0,1,1,0 .5 .57735
2 10 4 1,2,0,0 .75 .95743
3 15 4 1,2,1,1 1.25 .5
4 17 4 0,0,0,1 .25 .5
5 8 4 0,1,0,0 .25 .5

a. What is N?

N=500

b. What is n?
n=5

c. What is mi, for all values of i?

Hattie Burford
MATH 535 Sampling Techniques
Dr. Stack
Fall 2017 Final

𝑚1 , 𝑚2 , 𝑚3, 𝑚4 = 4

d. What is M4?
M4=17

e. What is y-bar3?
𝑦̅3 = 1.25

f. What is the estimate of mu?

∑ 𝑦𝑖 12(. 5) + 10(. 75) + 15(1.25) + 17(. 25) + 8(. 25) 38.5
𝜇= = = = 1.925
∑ 𝑚𝑖 20 20

g. What is the estimate of the total number of military people?

𝜏 = 𝑀𝜇 = 500(1.925) = 962.5

25. A game commission is interested in estimating the number of large-mouth bass in a reservoir. A random
sample of t = 3000 bass is caught. Each bass is marked and released. One month later, a second sample
of n = 2000 is caught. Suppose s = 819 have tags in the second sample. Estimate the total population
size and place a bound on the error of estimation.

𝑛𝑡 2000(3000)
𝑁= = = 7326.007326, 𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦 7326 𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑟
𝑠 819
Variance of the estimate:

𝑡 2 𝑛(𝑛 − 𝑠) 30002 (2000)(2000 − 819)

𝑉(𝑁) = = = 38696.41192
𝑠3 8193
Bound on the error of estimation:

𝐵 = 2√𝑉(𝑁) = 2√38696.41192 = 393.4281

Therefore we are 95% confident that the true population of large mouth bass in a reservoir is 7326 ± 393.4281.
Hattie Burford
MATH 535 Sampling Techniques
Dr. Stack
Fall 2017 Final

26. A community has 3,000 households. The City Council wants to estimate the proportion of households
that would be likely to recycle if recycling bins are provided at convenient locations.
There is no prior information about the proportion of households that would be likely to recycle.
Estimate the sample size required to estimate the proportion within 0.05. List the page number and
formula number you will use to make this estimate.

Page number: 94-95

Formula 4.18:

𝑁𝑝𝑞 𝐵2
𝑛= 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑞 = 1 − 𝑝 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐷 =
(𝑁 − 1)𝐷 + 𝑝𝑞 4

. 052
𝐷= = .000625
4
3000(. 5)(. 5)
𝑛= = 1600.53511
2999(. 000625) + (. 5)(. 5)

27. Continuation of previous question. A community has 3,000 households. The City Council wants to
estimate the proportion of households that would be likely to recycle if recycling bins are provided at
convenient locations. The survey must be done at a low-cost and within 2 to 3 weeks time frame. There
are three interviewers available to complete the survey. Each interviewer will sample about 1/3 of the
total sample size determined in part 1.

 There is a list of property owners available from the county assessor’s office (the list for tax purposes).
 The local telephone book includes the published phone number for city and county residents.
 The city has five (5) wards, or sub communities, each with about 600 households. Each ward has 7 to 9
voting precincts, where each precinct has 50 to 100 voters. The voter list (name and address) for the
voting precincts in each ward is available from the county clerk’s office.
 The list of individuals (name and address) receiving water & sewer bills is available from the city utility
company and can be sorted by name or address.
 Google Maps provides a good aerial map of the community (houses can be identified by address vs.
businesses).

Using information from the text, determine a sampling technique (using any or all of the items listed) to meet
the requirements of low cost and quick turnaround. Would you recommend face-to-face, telephone, mail or
other type of survey? Would you recommend simple random, stratified, systematic, cluster, or some other
sampling technique or combination of techniques? Support your choice and tell why other choices would not be
as good a choice.

In order to get the best sample possible, there will be multi-stage sampling used. Because the households are
already divided into 5 different wards, these will be used as our different strata. This is better than simple
random sampling from the county assessor’s office and the telephone book, because it doesn’t allow for some
Hattie Burford
MATH 535 Sampling Techniques
Dr. Stack
Fall 2017 Final

areas of the city to not be sampled like these forms of sampling might do. We will then use a simple random
sample to choose the voting precincts that will be used. Since there are 7-9 voting precincts, a simple random
sample will not be very time consuming, and they all have a chance to be chosen. Once these are chosen, we
will be able to use systematic sampling to choose the households from the precincts. Systematic sampling is
used to make sure that the households chosen are spread out. I would recommend a telephone survey be done
because it is much more cost efficient, and much less time consuming than face to face to face or mail.
Furthermore, there is less interviewer bias than face to face and mail, and the response time is quicker than mail.
The three interviewers would take the households chosen and each would call the same number of households,
splitting the work load up.

28. A researcher wants to estimate the average amount spent on holiday decorations for households in a
certain city. Cluster sampling is used and areas in the community are identified. A simple random
sample of 20 areas is selected from 60 areas in the city. Interviewers then visit all households in the area
to obtain the amount spent on holiday decorations. The table lists the area number, the number of
households in the area, and the total amount spent for decorations. Estimate the average amount a
household in the city spends on decorations and place it down on the error of estimation. In calculating
the bound, assume sr = 114.2678.

Area Number Number of Households Amount spent on decorations

1 71 2810
2 78 3210
3 69 2780
4 69 2830
5 58 2370
6 55 2210
7 51 2430
8 60 2390
9 63 2430
10 58 2380
11 70 2880
12 71 2760
13 78 3110
14 52 1990
15 58 2370
16 73 2930
17 64 2470
18 63 2390
19 75 2870
20 67 2730
Hattie Burford
MATH 535 Sampling Techniques
Dr. Stack
Fall 2017 Final

Sum = 1303 52340

Average = 65.15 2617
Standard Dev. = 8.2096 316.2128
Variance = 67.3974 99990.5263

N=60

n=20

Sr=114.2678

𝑆𝑟2 = 13057.13012

Estimate:

52340
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 = = 40.1688
1303
𝑁−𝑛
𝑉(𝑦) = ∗ 𝑆2
̅2 𝑟
𝑁𝑛𝑀
∑ 𝑚𝑖 1303
̅=
𝑀 = = 65.15
𝑛 20
Variance of estimate:

60 − 20
𝑉(𝑦) = (13057.13012) = .102541
60(20)(65.152 )

Bound on the error of estimation:

𝐵 = 2√𝑉(𝑦) = 2√. 102541 = .64044

Therefore, we are 95% confident that the average spent on decorations per household is approximately $40.17
±$.64