Read the following descriptions of two imaginary social surveys and answer the questions below:

Survey A

In order to gain answers to her survey on people’s leisure habits, an interviewer stands on the corner of a shopping precinct in Exeter, Devon. She works from 10.30am until 3.30pm. She asks every 15th person who passes and has completed 27 successful interviews by the end of the afternoon.

Explain why the sample used in Survey A was unlikely to be representative of the following groups:

  • The population of Exeter
  • The population of the UK
  • The Exeter electorate
  • Young mothers
  • The elderly
  • Male manual workers

Survey B

Last year the ”Daily Tabloid” newspaper asked its readers to take part in a phone- in poll, asking them whether they thought the government needed to bring in more legislation limiting the number of new immigrants from countries outside the European Community. There were 7600 responses, showing a clear majority support for new laws.

Suggest three reasons why the sample used in Survey B was unlikely to be representative of the opinions of the electorate as a whole.