Much like sound bytes of news stories, statistical studies are often reduced to one-or two-sentence stat-bytes. For the following stat-byte, discuss what crucial information is missing and what more you would want to know before acting on the study. According to a newspaper, $26 \%$ of Americans rate potatoes their favorite vegetable, making it the most popular vegetable. Which of the following is crucial information that you would want to know before acting on the study? Select all that apply. A. The goal of the study B. Were respondents given the choice of potatoes, or did they suggest it without a prompt C. How respondents were chosen D. How the question was asked E. Which newspaper performed the study Next

Step 1 ：The goal of the study (A) is important because it provides context for the results. For example, if the goal was to determine the most popular vegetable among Americans, then the fact that 26% of respondents chose potatoes is relevant. However, if the goal was to determine the most popular food overall, then the fact that only 26% chose potatoes might suggest that it is not very popular.

Step 2 ：Whether respondents were given the choice of potatoes or did they suggest it without a prompt (B) is also important. If respondents were prompted to choose potatoes, then the results might be biased. On the other hand, if respondents suggested potatoes without a prompt, then the results might be more reliable.

Step 3 ：How respondents were chosen (C) is crucial because it affects the representativeness of the sample. If respondents were not chosen randomly, then the results might not be generalizable to the entire population of Americans.

Step 4 ：How the question was asked (D) is important because it can influence respondents' answers. For example, if the question was leading or confusing, then the results might not accurately reflect respondents' true preferences.

Step 5 ：Which newspaper performed the study (E) is less crucial, but it could still be relevant. For example, if the newspaper has a reputation for biased or inaccurate reporting, then the results might be less trustworthy.

Step 6 ：Final Answer: \boxed{\text{A, B, C, D}}