Page 263 - Statistics for Dummies

Ranking the worst cars of the millennium
You may be familiar with a radio show called
on to the Web site, and answered the survey
question.
Car Talk that’s typically aired Saturday morn-
ings on National Public Radio and is hosted by
Just so you won’t be left hanging (and I
“Click and Clack,” two brothers in Cambridge,
know you’re dying to find out!), the results of
Massachusetts, who offer wise and wacky Chapter 16: Polls, Polls, and More Polls 247
the survey are shown in the following table.
advice to callers with strange car problems. Although you may not be old enough to remem-
The show’s Web site regularly offers “just for ber some of these vehicles, it is certainly an
fun” surveys on a wide range of car-related easy exercise to search the Internet for pictures
topics, such as, “Who has bumper stickers and stories about them galore. (Remember,
on their cars, and what do they say?” One of though, that these results represent only the
their surveys asked the question, “What do you opinions of Car Talk fans who took the time to
think was the worst car of the millennium?” get to the Web site and take the survey.) Notice
Thousands upon thousands of folks responded that the percentages won’t add up to 100%
with their votes — but, of course, these folks because the results in the table represent only
don’t represent all car owners. They represent the top ten vote-getters.
only those who listen to the radio show, logged
Rank Type of Car Percentage of Votes
1 Yugo 33.7%
2 Chevy Vega 15.8%
3 Ford Pinto 12.6%
4 AMC Gremlin 8.5%
5 Chevy Chevette 7.0%
6 Renault LeCar 4.3%
7 Dodge Aspen / Plymouth Volare 4.1%
8 Cadillac Cimarron 4.0%
9 Renault Dauphine 3.6%
10 Volkswagen (VW) Bus 2.7%

Some surveys are just for fun, and others are more serious. Be sure to check
the source of any serious survey in which you’re asked to participate and for
which you’re given results. Groups that have a special interest in the results
should either hire an independent organization to conduct (or at least to
review) the survey, or they should offer copies of the survey questions to the
public. Groups should also disclose in detail how the survey was designed and
conducted, so that the public can make an informed decision about the credi-
bility of the results.

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