Dr. Sarah's Web Polls and Census Info

Purpose and Directions Searching the web for info can be frustrating, but also very rewarding. In this assignment, you will continue to develop your advanced web searching techniques (see Homer Simpson Tax Lab and stock market intro) to search for info on polls and the 2000 census. To alleviate frustration and increase chances for succuss, work in a group and turn in 1 paper per group. Be creative in your searches, as sometimes the obvious word to a search will not provide an answer. In longer pages, be sure to use the Edit/Find command followed by the repeated use of the Edit/Find Again command to find ALL uses of a word that you are searching for in a given page BEFORE you answer a question. Your grade will be based on how many questions you answered correctly and completely, and the clarity and depth of your writing and explanations, so take your time to think carefully and discuss the issues in your group before writing down an answer! You may attach extra pages if you need more room for explanation.

USA Today Polls

Go to this USA Today polls and surveys link.
  • Summarize the contents.






    Notice that if you click on the link (at the bottom) to USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup poll index, there are no recent polls. So, by using the search feature on the left side, find a recent poll dated in the last month.
  • What did you type that allowed you to find a page with a recent poll?






  • Describe the poll, the polling population, and the biases.






    Census Info Page Click on this link and then use Edit/Find as directed above to answer all the questions up until the next (underlined) link.

    How will the Census Bureau collect info on the homeless?

  • Which commands did you use for Edit/Find command in the census info page and what did you find out? Explain in detail.






    Will people of mixed racial or ethnic heritage be able to identify themselves on the census form?

  • Which commands did you use for Edit/Find command in the census info page and what did you find out? Explain in detail.






    Is the Census Bureau allowed to use sampling?

  • Which commands did you use for Edit/Find command in the census info page and what did you find out? Explain in detail.








    For the 2000 census, could people fill in census info online?

  • Which commands did you use for Edit/Find command in the census info page and what did you find out?


  • Go to this census search page link and conduct a search there to find the info. What did you type in that allowed you to find a page that answers this question? What is the answer?








    Circle Sampling Proplem from the Textbook

  • Compute the real average diameter of the circles and show your work.






  • Close your eyes and drop a pencil or pen onto a circle page, marking the circle that you hit. What is the diameter?






  • Label the circles 01, 02,...,60 and use the Table of Random Digits to choose one circle. What is the diameter?






  • Close your eyes and drop a pencil onto a new circle page, marking the circle that you hit, until you have marked 20 circles. Why is this not a random sample of 20 circles? What are the biases? Compute the average diameter.






  • Use the Table of Random Digits to choose a sample of 20 circles. Why is this a random sample? Compute the average diameter.






  • If I performed a trial run of the two methods for a sample size of 1 billion circles, which resulting average diameter should be closer to the true average? Why?






  • When I performed one trail run of the two methods for 20 circles, the average diameter from the pencil drop method was closer to the actual average than was the average for the random sample method. Assume that I did everything correctly. Explain how the pencil drop method could obtain an average diameter closer to the true average when the pencil drop method is a biased method.






  • Compare and contrast your average diameters in your four actual trials and relate this information to the bias information and to the number of circles in each sample.