Question

3.16 Environmental problems. A Gallup Poll found that Americans, when asked about a list of environmental problems, were increasingly worried about problems such as pollution of drinking water, soil, air, and waterways, but were least worried about climate change or global warming. Gallup’s report said, “Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted March 5–8, 2015, with a random sample of 1,025 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.” (a) What is the population for this sample survey? What is the sample? (b) The survey found that 64% of Republicans and those who lean Republican and 76% of Democrats and those who lean Democratic in the sample are most concerned about pollution of drinking water. Do you think these estimates are close to the truth about the entire population? Why?

Answer 1

(a) The population is all adults in all 50 states of U.S. and District of Columbia who are 18 years old and older.

(b) The sample is 1025 adults from all 50 states of U.S. and District of Columbia who own a telephone and are 18 years old and older.

(c) The given estimates are not close to the truth about the entire population because the sample size is very small to represent the whole population and it seems like there were more Republicans and Democrats in the selected sample which results in higher percentages showing their concerns.