In the Following Passage, Identifying Sample, Population, Attribute of Interest

question 106

Essay

In the following passage, identifying sample, population, attribute of interest, and the extent to which the claims involved are knowable. Consider carefully the size and diversification of the sample and the extent to which the population differs or may differ from the sample; remember, what's important is that the sample be representative. Do you find any flaw in our professor's reasoning about the usefulness of the survey for her own purposes? Should she believe that the more people who have home offices, the more likely her own will escape attention from the IRS?
A college professor converted one room of her house into a home office and intended to deduct her expenses on her federal income tax return. She wondered how many other college faculty had done the same, thinking that the more who deducted home offices, the less likely her own return would be noticed by the IRS and hence the less likely she would be audited. So she decided to do her own informal survey of her colleagues to see how many of them had home offices. She sent out a questionnaire of three questions to all 1,200 instructors at her campus, and she received 950 responses. (Her promise to share the results of the survey apparently motivated faculty to respond.)
As it turned out, 32 percent of her respondents answered yes to the question, "Do you maintain an office at home?" Half of these also answered yes to the question, "Do you deduct your home office expenses on your federal income tax return?" And 24 percent of the entire group of respondents answered yes to the question, "Is your campus office adequate?"

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Definitions:

Administrative Proceeding

A non-judicial process conducted by a government agency to resolve disputes, enforce laws, or regulate activities.

Secretary of State

A senior official within the federal government responsible for conducting foreign affairs, including negotiating treaties and representing the United States internationally.

Franchise Taxes

Taxes levied on businesses for the privilege of operating as a corporation or LLC within a particular state.

Registered Agent

A person or company designated to receive official legal and tax documents on behalf of a business entity.