BALIWAG POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

Baliwag, Bulacan

ACT09 – Statistical Analysis and Software Application

Second Semester | A.Y. 2021 – 2022

MODULE 3

Prepared by:

Marvic V. Ablaza, MM
Assistant Professor I

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 STATISTICAL
ANALYSIS AND
SOFTWARE
APPLICATION
Sample Size

Objectives:
After successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

 Determine the appropriate sample size.

 Differentiate various sampling techniques.
 Know the sources of errors in sampling.

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 LESSON 3

Sample Size

“How many participants should be chosen for a survey”?

One of the most frequent problems in statistical analysis is the determination of

the appropriate sample size. One may ask why sample size is so important. The answer
to this is that an appropriate sample size is required for validity. If the samples size is
too small, it will not yield valid results. An appropriate sample size can produce accuracy
of results.

Moreover, the results from the small sample size will be questionable. A sample
size that is too large will result in wasting money and time because enough samples will
normally give an accurate result. The sample size is typically denoted by n and it is
always a positive integer. No exact sample size can be mentioned here and it can vary
in different research settings. However, all else being equal, large sized sample leads to
increased precision in estimates of various properties of the population.

Take Note!
 Representativeness, not size, is the more important consideration.
 Use no less than 30 subjects if possible.
 If you use complex statistics, you may need a minimum of 100 or more in your
sample (varies with method).

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 Choosing of sample size depends on non - statistical considerations and statistical
considerations.

Non-statistical considerations – It may include availability of resources, man power,

budget, ethics and sampling frame.

Statistical considerations – It will include the desired precision of the estimate.

Three criteria need to be specified to determine the appropriate sample size:

1. Level of Precision
Also called sampling error, the level of precision, is the range in which the true value
of the population is estimated to be.

2. Confidence Interval
It is statistical measure of the number of times out of 100 that results can be
expected to be within a specified range. For example, a confidence interval of 90%
means that results of an action will probably meet expectations 90% of the time.

To find the right z – score to use, refer to the table:

3. Degree of Variability
Depending upon the target population and attributes under consideration, the degree of
variability varies considerably. The more heterogeneous a population is, the larger the
sample size is required to get an optimum level of precision.

Understanding Confidence Intervals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFWsuO9f74o

Methods in Determining the Sample Size

1. Estimating the Mean or Average

The sample size required to estimate the populations mean (μ) to with a level of
confidence with specified margin of error e, given by

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 where:
Z is the z-score corresponding to level of confidence.
e is the level of precision.

Take Note:
If When is unknown, it is common practice to conduct a preliminary survey to
determine s and use it as an estimate of or use results from previous studies to
obtain an estimate of .

When using this approach, the size of the sample should be at least 30. The formula for
the sample standard deviation s is

Example:
A soft drink machine is regulated so that the amount of drink dispensed is
approximately normally distributed with a standard deviation equal to 0.5 ounce.

Determine the sample size needed if we wish to be 95% confident that our sample
mean will be within 0.03 ounce from the true mean.

Solution: The z – score for confidence level 95% in the z – table is 1.96.

We need a 1068 sample for this study.

2. Estimating Proportion (Infinite Population)

The sample size required to obtain a confidence interval for p with specified margin of
error e is given by

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 Where:
Z is the z – score corresponding to level of confidence
e is the level of precision
P is the population proportion

There is a dilemma in this formula:

It depends on

which we know only after we have taken the sample.

There are two ways to solve this dilemma:

1. We could determine a preliminary value for p based on a pilot study or an earlier

study.

Example:
If last month 37% of all voters thought that state taxes are too high, then it is likely
that the proportion with that opinion this month will not be dramatically different, and
we would use the value 0.37 for p in the formula.

2. Simply to replace p in the formula by 0.5.

When p = 0.5, the maximum value of p(1- p) = 0.25. This is called the most
conservative estimate, since it gives the largest possible estimate of n.

The conservative formula using the strong law of large number.

Where:
Confidence level is 95%

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 The level of precision is 0.05

Example:
Suppose we are doing a study on the inhabitants of a large town, and want to find out
how many households serve breakfast in the mornings. We don’t have much
information on the subject to begin with, so we’re going to assume that half of the
families serve breakfast: this gives us maximum variability.

So p = 0.5. We want 99% confidence and at least 1% precision.

Solution: The z – score for confidence level 99% in the z – table is 2.58.

We need a 16, 641 sample for this study.

3. Slovin’s Formula

Slovin’s formula is used to calculate the sample size n given the population size and
error. It is computed as

Where:
N is the total population
e is the level of precision

Example # 1: (Total Sample Size)

A researcher plans to conduct a survey about food preference of BS Stat students. If
the population of students is 1000, find the sample size if the error is 5%.

Solution:

The researcher need to survey 286 BS Stat student.

Example #2: (Sample Size for every respondent.)

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 RESPONDENTS POPULATION SIZE SAMPLE SIZE
STEM 220 38
HUMSS 330 57
ABM 430 75
GAS 170 30
TVL – ICT 350 61
TVL - HE 400 69
N = 1900 n = 330
Solution:

N = 1900

Since the margin of error was not given, we will use e = 5% (0.05)

n= 1900

1 + 1900 (0.05)2

n= 1900

5.75

n = 330.4 (330)

Solving for the sample size for every respondent.

Respondent 1 = Repondent Population Size ÷ Total Population × Total Sample Size

STEM = 220 ÷ 1900 × 330 = 38.2 (38)

HUMSS = 330 ÷ 1900 × 330 = 57.3 (57)
ABM = 430 ÷ 1900 × 330 = 74.6 (75)
GAS = 170 ÷ 1900 × 330 = 29.5 (30)
ICT = 350 ÷ 1900 × 330 = 60.7 (61)
HE = 400 ÷ 1900 × 330 = 69.4 (69)

Total Sample Size = 38 + 57 + 75 + 30 + 61 + 69 = 330

Take Note:
Sometimes the total sample size is +/- 1.

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 Supplemental Videos for this topic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFWsuO9f74o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGTeT-ZAL_I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaTFpp-uzp0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3Sh82NcLCk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbz_vkdRP-w

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 WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?
1. Compute the sample size of the table below using Slovin’s formula.

RESPONDENTS POPULATION SIZE SAMPLE SIZE

BSIT 250
BSCOE 350
BAHRM 180
BSAIS 385
BSA 450
BSED 125
BEED 105

2. The average test score of all students in a certain class was measured to be 84
with a standard deviation of 15. If the margin of error was calculated to be 5.367
at a 95% confidence level, how many students were in this class?

3. Sally wants to determine what proportion of high school students are planning to
enroll in college after they graduate. Given a 95% confidence level and a margin
of error of 5%, what is the maximum sample size that she should use in order to
perform statistical experiment?

ASSIGNMENT
Define the following terms:
1. Observation unit
2. Target population
3. Sample population
4. Sample
5. Sample unit
6. Sample frame
7. Sample technique
8. Sampling bias
9. Probability sample
10. Non – probability sample

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