Ideal Weight Upward, Essay Example

Americans Continue to Adjust Their Ideal Weight Upward

This randomized Gallup poll tracked the reported real average weight and reported ideal weight of Americans through phone interviews. It was found that on average in 1991 the ideal weight was 149 lbs and the average weight of Americans was 161 lbs. The study found that from 1991 to 2011 the average ideal weight of Americans increased to 162 lbs and the real average weight increased to 176 lbs. The main finding of the study is that the ideal weight of Americans is adjusting in direct correspondence to their actual weight, the researchers attribute this phenomenon to weight denial.

What type of survey did Gallup conduct? (3pts)

Gallup conducted a random-digit-dial sampling survey with telephone interviews.

When did the survey take place? (3pts)

The survey was conducted on Nov. 15-18, 2011,

What was the population? (4pts)

Gallup surveyed 515 men and 500 women.

What was the N–?value of the sample?(4pts)

The N value was 1,015

What type of sampling was used? (4pts)

Randomized stratified sampling was used. Through a random digital dial interview process by telephone.

What was the response rate? (4pts)

The response rate was 100% as potential respondents who did not answer cold calls were not tracked and a quota was set for respondents.

Was quota sampling used? If so, explain. (4pts)

Yes. A minimum quota of 400 cellphone respondents combined with a quote of 600 landline respondents was used per 1,000 national adults.

Was stratified sampling used? If so, explain. (4pts)

Yes the study was stratified by between 515 men and 500 women, with weighted samples of   age, gender, race, education, adults in the household, ethnicity, region, and phone type.

Was randomization used? How?(5pts)

Yes, randomized was used through random digital dial sampling.

Does sampling error or bias exist? Why or why not?(5pts)

The sampling margin of error for the entire study is ±4 percentage points. For results based on men, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points. For results based on women,  the sampling error margin is ±6 percentage points.