Question

when estimating the percentage of college students who apply to graduate school, a researcher reports a margin of error. what does the margin of error reflect?
a. the inclination of students to decline to answer survey questions.
b. the natural differences that we’d expect to arise from sample to sample.
c. the possibility that some students will provide inaccurate information.
d. the fact that certain students were not included at all in the sample.
e. all possible sources of bias from both sampling and nonsampling issues.

Explanation:

The margin of error in sampling represents the natural variability that occurs due to sampling. It accounts for the differences we would expect to see from one sample to another when estimating a population parameter. It is not about non - response bias (students declining to answer), response bias (inaccurate information), or sampling frame issues (students not included in the sample).

Answer:

B. The natural differences that we’d expect to arise from sample to sample.