DESCRIBING

SAMPLE SIZE
SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION
•A SAMPLE (n) is a
selection of respondents for
a research study to
represent the TOTAL
POPULATION (N).
SLOVIN’S FORMULA IN DETERMINING THE
SAMPLE SIZE
The following information is needed to be able to
determine the sample size using SLOVIN’S formula:
• POPULATION (N) consist of members of a group
that a researcher is interested in studying the
members of a group that usually have common or
similar characteristics.
• Margin of error is the allowable error margin in
research. A confidence interval of 95% gives a
margin of error of 5%; a 98% gives a margin of error
of 2%; a 99% confidence interval gives a 1% margin
of error.
THE SAMPLE SIZE CAN BE OBTAINED BY THE
FORMULA:

Where
n = sample size
N = total population
e = margin of error
EXAMPLE #1

• A researcher wants to conduct a

survey. If the population of a big
university is 35,000, find the
sample size if the margin of
error is 5%.
EXAMPLE # 2

• Suppose you plan to conduct a

study among 1,500 Grade 11
students enrolled in the STEM
Track. How many respondents are
needed using a margin of error of
2%?
SEATWORK
• Given a population (N) of 10,000, complete the table using
SLOVIN’S formula with complete solution.

ESTIMATE OF ERROR (e) SAMPLE SIZE (n)

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%