Potential Problems with Sampling

AP Statistics· difficulty 3/5

A coach has 24 athletes try a new training regimen and compares their times to last year's times for the same athletes. Times improve, and he concludes the regimen works.

Last year times This year times Same athletes, no control group Maturation, weather, motivation could explain change

The most serious flaw is

  • A

    Times should be measured more often

  • B

    The sample size is too small

  • C

    Random sampling was not used

  • D

    No control group; improvement may be due to natural development or other factors

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Explanation

Without a control group, we cannot rule out alternative explanations (maturation, weather, motivation, etc.) for the observed improvement.

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