UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN

FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

ATURAMU .E. ADESOLA

18/31QD027

ARC 407: RESEARCH METHODS

 CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING SAMPLE SIZE

Choosing the appropriate sample size is critical in research because it

determines the study population's representativeness and the statistical

power of the results. When deciding on a sample size, keep the following

criteria in mind:

 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

In order to determine the sample size, the research objectives must be

clear and specific. When comparing research that investigates small

differences or effects to research that investigates large differences or

effects, a larger sample size is required.

 POPULATION SIZE

The sample size is determined by the size of the population from which

the sample is drawn. A larger population necessitates a larger sample size

in order to obtain a representative sample.

 CONFIDENCE LEVEL

The sample size is affected by the level of confidence required in the

study results. The greater the level of confidence, the larger the sample

size required.
 MARGIN OF ERROR

The sample size is determined by the acceptable margin of error. To

increase the precision of the results, a smaller margin of error necessitates

a larger sample size.

 VARIABILITY OF THE POPULATION

The variability of the population affects the sample size. A larger sample

size is required to accurately represent a more heterogeneous population.

 SAMPLING METHOD

The sampling method used also has an impact on the sample size. When

compared to stratified or cluster sampling, simple random sampling

necessitates a larger sample size.

 RESOURCES

The sample size is also influenced by the study's resources, such as time,

budget, and personnel. A larger sample size necessitates more resources,

which may be insufficient for some studies.