11.1 Factors Influencing Data Collection

SAMPLE 1 From Math Links 9 p. 417

When I first read the article, I thought…

I thought that it was dumb for people to buy the exact same shirt but in a different color for $20 extra! If I were to buy either of those shirts, I would buy the cheaper one, because it is the same shirt, so there is no reason to buy a more expensive shirt. I think that people believe that the more expensive shirt is better quality.
After learning about influencing factors, I now think…because…

Cost and timing were big influencing factors in this survey. The cost of the two different shirts, make people belive that one is going to be better quality than another. The timing of the people taking the survey was quick, so people didn’t mind taking it.

In the future, when reading and interpreting survey data I will …

Make sure to identify and avoid bias in future surveys. I will remember that I dont have to answer each question, if it lets me.