A business developer would like to purchase an abandoned corner lot in a small town and build a small convenience store with gasoline pumps on the site. Town leaders are concerned about potential traffic and noise impact to the adjacent neighborhood and send printed surveys to 500 homes in the affected area. Of the 123 surveys returned, 87% oppose the plan to develop the corner lot. How could the sampling design cause town leaders to overestimate or underestimate overall support of the development plan?
Answer
A
The leaders may underestimate support because only 123 surveys were returned.
B
The leaders may overestimate overall support because many residents who did not receive surveys will support the plan.
C
The leaders may underestimate overall support because many residents who support the plan may be less likely to respond.
D
The leaders may underestimate support because it can be assumed that all residents who did not return the surveys would support the plan.
Explanation
If residents who support the plan are less likely to return the survey, then supporters will be underrepresented among the responses. The returned surveys would therefore show more opposition than exists among all affected residents, causing town leaders to underestimate overall support. The fact that only 123 surveys were returned does not by itself reveal which opinion is underrepresented.
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