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Sample Size Calculation

The document discusses methods for determining sample sizes for surveys and studies. It provides formulas and examples for calculating sample sizes for probability and non-probability samples. It also gives examples of calculating sample sizes to estimate population means and proportions within given levels of confidence and margin of error. Specific cases covered include estimating a population mean within a margin of error, estimating a proportion within a given percentage of the true proportion, and estimating a prevalence rate within a specified level of precision.

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rizul SAINI
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225 views

Sample Size Calculation

The document discusses methods for determining sample sizes for surveys and studies. It provides formulas and examples for calculating sample sizes for probability and non-probability samples. It also gives examples of calculating sample sizes to estimate population means and proportions within given levels of confidence and margin of error. Specific cases covered include estimating a population mean within a margin of error, estimating a proportion within a given percentage of the true proportion, and estimating a prevalence rate within a specified level of precision.

Uploaded by

rizul SAINI
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sample size Calculation

•  sample may vary in size for several reasons but the size of the population does not
A
influence the size of the sample. Sample size depend on the type of information
required from the survey and the cost involved.
Various methods of determining the sample size:
1. Determining the sample size of Non probability samples
Take as large a sample as possible within the constraints of time and money.
Example:
If total budget of a research project is Rs 50,000, the estimated fixed costs of sampling
and the non sampling are Rs 30,000 and per unit sampling costs is Rs 25,
then the sample size (n) should be
2. Determining the sample size of Probability samples
In this case sample size depend on
a) The variability of the population: the higher the variability of population (σ)
larger will be the size of the sample. if the standard deviation of population is
unknown researcher can use standard deviation from previous study or from
sample data.
b) The confidence attached to the estimate: the higher the confidence needed(Z),
larger will be the sample size(assuming that population is normally distributed).
c) The allowable error or margin of error: the precision needed depend on
objective of study. For greater precision sample size would be larger.
•Sample
  size to estimate mean of population:

Sample size to estimate population proportion :

Where, n is sample size


For we can use StatistialTables.pdf
is standard deviation of population, if unknown then we can use sample estimate.
is population proportion, if unknown we can use 0.5
margin of error
• 
Q. The variance of a random sample of 64 observations were computed
as 100. If the investigator wants to be 95% confident that the error in
estimate of population mean should not exceed how many observations
are required?
Solution: (i)
•   A manufacturing concern wants to estimate the average amount of purchase of its
Q.
product in a month by the customers. If the Standard deviation is Rs 10 . Find the
sample size if the maximum error is not to exceed Rs. 3 with a probability of 0.99.
Solution:
e=Rs. 3
=Rs. 10
Z=2.575 (using statistical table)
Q. A marketing agency wishes to select a random sample to estimate the weekly
household income in a large community. if the income distribution is known to be
normal with a SD of Rs 600, what should be the sample size so that the sampling
error does not exceed Rs. 200?

Ans: n=34.57
 
Q. The average outstanding balance of loan issued by a bank varies
from month to month. From past experience it is known that the
amounts are normally distributed with a standard deviation of Rs. 5000.
The bank wishes to estimate the average by drawing random sample
such that the probability is 0.95 that the mean of the sample will not
deviate by more than Rs 600 from the universe mean. What should be
the sample size.

Ans: n=267
•Q.An
  investigator wants to estimate the proportion of freshmen at his University
who currently smoke cigarettes (i.e., the prevalence of smoking). How many
freshmen should be involved in the study to ensure that a 95% confidence interval
estimate of the proportion of freshmen who smoke is within 5% of the true
proportion?
Solution:
Because we have no information on the proportion of freshmen who smoke, we use
0.5 to estimate the sample size as follows:

In order to ensure that the 95% confidence interval estimate of the proportion of
freshmen who smoke is within 5% of the true proportion, a sample of size 385 is
needed.
Q. An investigator wants to estimate the prevalence of cancer among women who are
between 40 and 45 years of age living in Uttarakhand. How many women must be
involved in the study to ensure that the estimate is precise? National data suggest
that 1 in 235 women are diagnosed with breast cancer by age 40. This translates to a
proportion of 0.0043 (0.43%) or a prevalence of 43 per 10,000 women. Suppose the
investigator wants the estimate to be within 10 per 10,000 women with 95%
confidence. Compute the sample size.

Solution: 16447.8

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