Yamane’s Formula for Sample Calculation

First of all you should be working with a finite population and if the population size is known, the
Yamane formula for determining the sample size is given by:

n = N / (1 + Ne^2)

Where

n= corrected sample size, N = population size, and e = Margin of error (MoE), e = 0.05 based on
the research condition.

Let’s assume that the population is 10,000. At 5% MoE., the sample size would be: 10,000 / (1 +
10,000 (0.05^2) = 10,000 / 26 = 384.61 ~ 385

In a finite population, when the original sample collected is more than 5% of the population size,
the corrected sample size is determined by using the Yamane’s formula.

In the example above, 5% of 10,000 is 500 and hence the corrected size is 385 although for
research purposes, even 385 is a big number (for handling and collection point of view) and the
researcher has to make a decision to collect even smaller number in order of ease of handling,
costing but he has to ensure that the sample is representative.

EXAMPLE -FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS

Introduction

The main purpose of this chapter is to present the key findings obtained from analyzing the
collected secondary data in this research. Both qualitative data and quantitative secondary data
have been collected on students in the UK and some existing research. These findings help in
better understanding of the impact and challenges posed by students in the UK.
Students in the UK

The sample size for data analysis (calculated using a sample size calculator) is 372 for a population
of 5245 students in the UK (HESA Figure 11). Yamane formula was used to sample size calculation
(Yamane, 1967).

Fig 1: Yamane Formula

When using the formula for calculating the sample size, we got:

N= Population = 5425

e = error margin = 5%

Therefore n= sample size = [5245/{1+5245(0.0025)}]

n= 372

Hence the sample size for data collection in this research is 372.

References
Yamane, Taro. (1967). Statistics: An Introductory Analysis, 2nd Edition

HESA 2014. Perceptions of Pakistani students in Pakistan and in the UK

URL: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/publications/students-2015-16/introduction