Minute Self-Assessment

Chapters 7 and 8
7. Sampling and Sampling Distributions
8. Confidence Interval Estimation
Submitted by: Florabel T. Ledres

What was the most important thing learned in the Chapters?

I have learned the three main reasons why we choose to select only a sample of the
whole population when we want to analyze the population aside from it is enough to
represent the characteristics of a population.

• Selecting a sample is less time-consuming than selecting every item in the

population.
• Selecting a sample is less costly than selecting every item in the population.
• Analyzing a sample is less cumbersome and more practical than analyzing
the entire population
Considering the abovementioned reasons, it is very critical on deciding how we should
select our samples. That is why there are different types of sampling methods that will
help on selecting the most appropriate sample data from the population that truly
represents the population and will guide us to make sound and correct decisions.
Below are my key takeaways in Chapter 7 relating to the different sampling methods, its
differences, and advantage and disadvantages.
1. Simple Random
- every item from a frame has the same chance of selection as every other
item.
- Sampling with replacement – after you select the item, you return it to the
frame and it gains the same probability again of being selected
- Sampling without replacement – one an item is selected; it has no chance of
being selected again.
- The advantage is it give the whole population an equal probability of being
selected. Simplicity and unbiased.
- The disadvantage is that because of its randomness, you may select a
sample that does not truly represent the whole population. There is more
risks of missing out a particular group.

2. Systematic
 - has a formula of k=N/n which is simpler and more straightforward than
random sampling.
- For example, out of the 1,000 population, you may select every 20th item so
you can have 50 samples.
- One of its advantages is it is easy to execute and easy to trace the data when
we compare the results.
- The disadvantage of this is that the population should be known which is
sometimes difficult to identify. And because it follows an interval or a pattern
in choosing the samples, there might be biases or data manipulation.

3. Stratified
- You subdivide the population on different strata (levels or class). These strata
must share a common characteristic such as age, gender, pay class, etc.
- It is more efficient and is more reliable to choose a sample that really
represents the whole population thus, the results are more precise.

4. Cluster
- You divide the population into groups and then you select the group/s that will
be included in the study. All items in the chosen group are included.

The list above is for the probability samples, there are sampling methods also for
nonprobability samples and these are the convenience sampling and judgement sampling.
This is somehow the most common method used in the workplace.

In evaluating survey worthiness, the crucial part is identifying the credibility and objectivity of
the surveys and data gathered. And the only way to make a valid statistical inference from a
sample to a population is through the use of probability sample because non probability
sampling methods are subject to biases (serious or unintentional) that may make the results
meaningless. Survey errors are coverage, nonresponse error, sampling, and measurement
errors. Ethical issues from these errors might arise such as intentionally excluding a
particular group from the frame, leading questions that will result in a certain decision, the
respondents will give false information and the surveyor influences the respondents in
answering the questionnaires and etc.
Our main objective of making a statistical inference is to reach a conclusion about the
population and not about a sample. The results of the sampling method will be reflected to the
population. A sampling distribution is the distribution of results if all possible samples were
chosen. The single result obtained in practice is just one of the results in the sampling
distribution.
For Chapter 8:
- A point estimate is the value of a single sample statistics, such as sample
mean
- A confidence interval estimate is the range of values you expect your
estimate to fall in your test, within a certain level of confidence or probability.
 - The critical value defines the region or range to where we should reject the
null hypothesis. It is obtained from the table.
- We use the formula of Z score if the population standard deviation is known
assuming the population distribution is normally distributed, the sample size
is large. Otherwise, use the T-test given the population distribution is normally
distributed and the sample size is large.
- The T- test value depends on the degrees of freedom which is n-1

What important question remains unanswered?

So far, the discussions and learning materials for Chapter 7 and 8 were
comprehensively explained and no questions remained unanswered based on the samples
given as well.

What were the challenges encountered in the study of these chapters?

The challenges were the solving part of the topics. What formulas to use and to really
understand the whole concept especially in chapter 8 where there are 2 options, the Z score
and the T test. Then there’s also population proportion and population mean, we have to
evaluate first the given data before we can proceed the formula to be used.

Are you currently applying the concepts learned in these chapters? If so, how? If not,
how do you think you can apply this at work?

I think not yet as of this moment since, the computations are more complicated. For sure it
can help but to make the work easier and faster, we chose the most convenient ways and
less time consuming in analyzing data. Maybe I can use this in evaluating and measuring
the time to finish a certain report or my daily work at the office, this will help me analyze
which part of my daily work consumes more time to finish to help me manage my time and
priorities.