Review Questions

1		Why are some reporters uncomfortable using numbers in stories? Despite their misgivings, what are some of the reasons reporters use numbers in a story?
2		Your college's star athlete became a pro player a few years ago. You have followed his career, and his salary increased from $10 million last year to $11 million this year. By what percentage did his salary increase?
3		Faculty salaries represent 60 percent of your school's $100 million budget. How much money is spent on salaries?
4		On your school newspaper, nine editors are paid $50 an issue. But the editor in chief receives $300 an issue. How would you compute the average, or central tendency? Why? Complete the computation.
5		Based on the section "How to write the numbers," generate an example of a lead that uses an analogy or describes numbers in words to express a mathematical relationship.
6		Define the following terms. Random selection Population Sample Sampling error Frequency distribution
7		Discuss the pros and cons of newspapers' use of survey methods to gather information for stories.
8		Discuss the strategy of forming mostly closed-ended questions for surveys.
9		Discuss why it is good to include some open-ended questions in surveys.
10		Discuss why you should always test survey questions before conducting the survey.
11		Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the following methods of gathering information. Face-to-face interview Mailed questionnaire Telephone interview
12		The chapter notes that the first consideration when writing a story based on a survey is to analyze the data carefully before starting to write. Writers should ask themselves: What findings would be of most interest to the audience? List other suggestions to consider when writing stories based on survey research.
13		List and discuss the guidelines suggested by the National Council on Public Polling for writing stories based on survey research.
14		List and discuss the 10 factors that can distort the outcome of polls, as compiled by James Simon.