A sample of 426 U.S. adults age 50 and older were asked how important a variety of issues were in choosing for whom to vote in the 2012 presidential election (AARP B, March 2012).
a. What is the sampled population for this study?
b. Social Security and Medicare was cited as “very important” by 350 respondents. Estimate the proportion of the population of U.S. adults age 50 and over who believe this issue is very important.
c. Education was cited as “very important” by 74% of the respondents. Estimate the number of respondents who believe this issue is very important.
d. Job Growth was cited as “very important” by 354 respondents. Estimate the proportion of U.S. adults age 50 and over who believe job growth is very important.
e. What is the target population for the inferences being made in parts (b) and (d)? Is it the same as the sampled population you identified in part (a)? Suppose you later learn that the sample was restricted to members of the American Association of Retired People (AARP). Would you still feel the inferences being made in parts (b) and (d) are valid? Why or why not?