1.14 What is the population? For each of the following sampling situations, identify the population as exactly as possible. That is, say what kind of individuals the population consists of and say exactly which individuals fall in the population. If the information given is not sufficient, complete the description of the population by making reasonable assumptions about any missing information.
(a) An opinion poll contacts 972 American adults and asks them, “Would you rather have a job working for the government or working for business?”
(b) Video adapter cables have pins that plug into slots in a computer monitor. The adapter will not work if pins are bent or broken. A computer store buys video adapter cables in large lots from a supplier. The store chooses five cables from each lot and inspects the pins. If any of the cables have bent or broken pins, the entire lot is sent back.
(c) The American Community Survey contacts 3.5 million households, including some in every county in the United States. This Census Bureau survey asks each household questions about their housing, economic, and social status.