4 December 2013

Research Methodology

Govt. Engineering College, Thrissur-9

 SAMPLING
Group No. 18
Ali M. A
Cini K
Muneera C R

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SAMPLING

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 Sample size determination

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 Our Take Home
At the end of this presentation,
we should be able to;
Understand the significance of sample size.
Understand factors that may affect sample size.
Determine sample size.
Use sample size in our research or study.

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 Sampling
Sample is expected to be the MIRROR of the
population
Cook checks only a spoon of rice to see if it is
cooked or not

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 The sampling process…

POPULATION

INFERENCE

SAMPLE

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 The sampling process…

POPULATION (N)

IS THE SAMPLE
REPRESENTATIVE?

SAMPLE (n)

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 The sampling process…

POPULATION (N) INFERENCE

IS THE
INFERENCE
GENERALIZABLE?

SAMPLE (n)

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 Attributes of a Good Sample

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 If Sample is too large
Good precision
Less errors (more accurate)
Less bias
But
× Wastage of time, money and resources

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 If Sample is too small
Efficient utilization of Time , Money and
resources
But
× low precision
× Large errors
× Large bias

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 Precision accuracy and bias
Large bias High precision Large bias, low precision No bias, High precision
& low accuracy & low accuracy & High accuracy

Accuracy:
Obtaining results
close to truth
Precision:
No bias, low precision Similar results with
& low accuracy repeated measurement
No random errors
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 Methods of Determining
Sample Size
 Unaided Judgment

 All you can afford

 Average for samples of similar studies

 Required size for cell

 Use of Statistical Models

 Use of Bayesian Statistical Model

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 1. Unaided Judgment

No specific method is used to determine sample

size
No considerations to precision , accuracy or the
cost
It is an approach to be avoided

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 2. All you can afford
 Set a total budget for the project
 Deduct the estimated costs of project design, data
analysis, preparing the report etc.
 The remainder (R) of the budget is allocated to
sampling.
 Dividing this R by cost per sampling unit gives the
sample size.
 This method concentrates on the cost of the
information and is not concerned about its value.
 May produce sample sizes that are larger than
required OR smaller than optimal.

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3. Average for samples of
similar studies

• Use data from previous studies of the same or

a similar population.

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4. Required size for cell
 Suitable for simple random, stratified random, and quota
samples
 Determine the number of groups required in the population
and then the number samples in each group.
 Eg: In a study of attitudes towards fast food among Engg.
College staff
 Need information from two occupational groups- teaching
and non teaching
 Each group is subdivided in to three age groups. This
resulted in 2 x3 = 6 sample cells.
 A sample size of 30 was needed per cell for the types
of statistical analyses that were to be conducted. The overall
sample size is therefore 6x 10= 60

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 5. Use of Bayesian Statistical
Model
It involves finding the difference between the
expected value of the sample information and
the cost of sampling
This difference is known as net gain
The sample size with the largest positive net
gain is selected
This method is good in principle but difficult to
implement in practice

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 5. Use of Bayesian Statistical
Model contd..
Procedure for sample size determination
a) Find the expected value of the sample
information for a given sample size
b) Estimate the cost of sampling
c) Find difference (net gain) with this sample size
d) Repeat steps a), b) & c) with other sample sizes
e) Select sample size with the largest positive net
gain

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 6. Use of Statistical Models
By using traditional statistical models

Prerequisite for use of statistical models

1. The allowable sampling error from the point of

view of the research problem.

2. An estimate of the variance of the population

3. The desired level of confidence that this error is

lower than the specified sampling error.

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 Population

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 Sample

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 Sampling error
or
Variation due to sampling

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Sampling error depends on
• the variance (σ) and
• the sample size (n)

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 Confidence interval

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 Confidence interval

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 Confidence interval

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 Confidence interval

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 Confidence interval
It is desirable to say that the mean
weight of the apples lies between
147g to 151g

Confidence interval tells us the possible

range around the estimate

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 What effects the width of the
confidence interval ?

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 1). Variation in sample size

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Small samples vary more from each other &
leads to wider confidence interval

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 Sample mean
159.2 gm

Large samples are more similar to each other

and will lead to narrow confidence interval

Sample mean Sample mean

160.9 gm 157.8 gm

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 What effects the width of the
confidence interval ??

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 2). Variation in the population

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Population with low variation

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 Population with low variation
 Similar samples with low variation
 Narrow confidence interval

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Population with large variation

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.. samples with large variation & it leads to
wider confidence interval

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 Sampling error

Sampling error  e 
n
where
  Standard deviation
n  Sample size
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 Confidence interval
Mean SD
Population  
Sample x s
Conf . Interval  point estimate  margin of error (e)


C o n f . In tv l   x  Z  2
n
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 Sample size calculation
 Specify the amount of error that can be allowed (e)
 Specify the desired level of confidence
 Determine the number of standard errors (Z)
 Estimate the standard deviation of the population (σ)

e z
n
 z 2 2
Sample size  n  2
e
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 A note about σ
 Solving for the sample size requires the population
standard deviation σ
 Since we don’t know the value we have to use an
estimate
 Few options
 Estimate σ from previous studies conducted on same or
similar population
 Conduct a pilot study to select a preliminary sample and use
the sample σ from sample study

 Make a judgment or best guess

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 Eg: Sample size calculation
Estimate the average height of male students in GECT
Error: e = 2cm ( ie. accurate to ± 2cm)
Confidence interval : 95% (to sided) implies z = 1.96
Standard deviation = 6cm

 z 2 2
6 1.96 2 2
Sample size  n  2
 2
 35
e 2

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 What is Zα/2
Confidence interval= 95 %
Confidence coefficient= c.c = 0.95
α = 1- c.c = 0.05
α/2 = 0.05/2 = 0.025
0.5 - α/2 = 0.475
Zα/2 =

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 1.9+0.06=
1.96

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 What is Zα/2
Confidence interval= 95 %
Confidence coefficient= c.c = 0.95
α = 1- c.c = 0.05
α/2 = 0.05/2 = 0.025
0.5 - α/2 = 0.475
Zα/2 = 1.96

47.5% of the population is

between 0-1.96 standard
deviation from the mean
Zi = (Xi - μ) / σ
Corresponding to the
mean value Z=0

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Eg: Simple random sample
Survey to estimate hourly wage rate of skilled labors
Error= 0.05, Confidence level=95%
population standard deviation =0.835, Sample size n ?
Answer:

a) When population size is very large

 z 2 2
0.835  1.96 2 2
Sample size  n  2
 2
 1072
e 0.05
b) When population size N =20,000

N 200000.835
2 2
n  1017
(N 1) z2  19999 1.962  0.835
2 2 2 2
e 0.05

=5% of the population

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Answer: contd..

c) When population size N =2000

N 2
20000.835 2
n   698
(N 1) z2  1999 1.962  0.835
2 2 2 2
e 0.05

=35% of the population

d) When population size N =200

N 2
2000.835 2
n  168
(N 1) ez2  199 1.962  0.835
2 2 2 2
0.05

=85% of the population

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Eg: 1 Stratified random sample

There are 4200 members in an association, 2800 of

whom live in the locality and the others in far away
places. The secretary of the association wants to take
a stratified random sample according to residence to
estimate total donations. Find the number of
members to be contacted if the total error is Rs
10,000. How should this be divided between two
strata? Standard deviation on donations from local
and foreign members are Rs 30/- and Rs 20/-
respectively.

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Eg: 2 Stratified random variable
Total number of members in an association = 4200
Members living in locality N1 = 2800
Members living in faraway places N2 = 1400
Standard deviation on donations σ1 = 30
σ2 = 20
L
error e = 10000/4200 = 2.38
 i
N  2

n i 1
L
 445
1
N e2
z2

N
 i
N 
i 1
2

N1
n1  n  297
N
N2
n2  n  148
N
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 Summary
 Sample should be representative of the
population and should be adequate in size
 Sample size is calculated on the basis of error
and confidence level
 Two basic sampling procedures
 Non-Probability sampling and
 Probability sampling

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 References
1) K. N. Krishnaswamy, et.al. Management
Research Methodology, Pearson.
2) R. Panneerselvam, Research Methodology,
Prentice Hall India.
3) Theo Kypraios, A Gentle Tutorial in Bayesian
Statistics, School of Mathematical Sciences,
U.K

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