A large company wants to find out what team-building activity its employees prefer. Which of the following samples can give the most valid generalization?
a all employees who have worked in the company for 5 years or more
b all 624 female employees in the company
c a group with one member from each department
d 400 randomly chosen employees from the list of all employees
d 400 randomly chosen employees from the list of all employees
The most valid generalization can be obtained from sample d: 400 randomly chosen employees from the list of all employees. Here's an explanation for each option:
a) "All employees who have worked in the company for 5 years or more"
This sample may not accurately represent the preferences of all employees, as it only includes those who have been with the company for a certain duration. The preferences of newer employees may not be reflected in this sample.
b) "All 624 female employees in the company"
This sample only includes female employees, which may not accurately represent the preferences of all employees, regardless of gender. Preferences can vary among employees of different genders.
c) "A group with one member from each department"
This sample may provide insights into team preferences within each department. However, it may not capture the preferences of all employees, as some departments may be overrepresented or underrepresented in the sample.
d) "400 randomly chosen employees from the list of all employees"
This sample offers the highest likelihood of representing the preferences of the entire employee population. Randomly selecting employees from the entire list helps ensure a more diverse and representative sample, leading to a more valid generalization.