Click SigmaXL > Templates & Calculators > Basic Statistical Templates > Sample Size Discrete to access the Sample Size Discrete calculator. The template gives the following default example:
Notes for use of the Sample Size Discrete Calculator:
P is estimate of proportion for outcome of interest. Use P = 0.5 if unknown.
Delta is desired proportion margin of error. Enter as the half-width, i.e. if the desired margin of error is +/- 3%, enter 0.03.
Enter population size N to adjust for small populations (N < 10000).
np should be >= 5. If necessary, reduce delta to adjust.
Power (1 Beta) is not considered in these calculations. Power and Sample Size may be calculated using
SigmaXL > Statistical Tools > Power & Sample Size Calculators.
This sample size calculator is based on a
confidence interval approach, where you enter the desired
half-interval value (delta). Lets say that you desire the
proportion margin of error to be +/- 3%. As noted above, you
simply enter a delta (half-interval) value of .03.
The challenge with this
sample size calculator is that we need an estimate of the population
proportion.This is a bit of a chicken and egg situation which comes first? I want to calculate an appropriate sample size to determine
an outcome, but I am being asked to enter an estimate of the
population proportion.
First, keep in mind that this tool is a planning tool the true
confidence intervals will be determined after you collect your data.
Estimating the population proportion can be done if you have good
historical data to draw from, for example, in historical customer
surveys the percentage of satisfied customers was 80%. In this case
you could use P=0.8. If you do not have
a priori knowledge, then
leave P=0.5 which gives the most conservative value (i.e., largest
estimate of sample size).If you enter a value other than 0.5 it will result in a
smaller sample size requirement.
Click SigmaXL > Templates & Calculators > Basic Statistical Templates > Sample Size Continuous to access the Sample Size Continuous calculator. The template gives the following default example:
Notes for use of the Sample Size Continuous Calculator:
Delta uses the same units as the standard deviation. Enter as the half-width, i.e., if the desired margin of error is +/- 0.25, enter 0.25.
Enter (optional) population size N to adjust for small populations (N < 1000).
Power (1 Beta) is not considered in these calculations. Power and Sample Size may be calculated using
SigmaXL > Statistical Tools > Power & Sample Size Calculators.
Similar to the Sample Size Discrete
calculator, this sample size calculator is based on a confidence
interval approach, where you enter the desired half-interval
value (delta). If a survey had responses that were on a
continuous scale of 1 to 5, and you desired a margin of error on
the mean to be +/- .25, then you would use .25 as the delta
value.Note that in this continuous case the units are not percentages but level of
satisfaction.Here we need an
a priori estimate of the population standard deviation.If you have no idea what the standard deviation will be, then
you could take a small sample to get a rough estimate of the
standard deviation.
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