Sample Size Determination

Methods of Sample Size

Determination
• For calculating mean
• For calculating Proportion
 Sample Size for estimation of Mean
Tools required
• The standard deviation (s)
• Allowable error (d)
• The value of normal variate (Z)
Required Sample Size(n)

z 2s 2
n
d2
 Example for estimation of mean
A health officer wishes to estimate the mean
hemoglobin level in defined community.
Preliminary information is that the mean is about
150mg/dl with standard deviation of 30 mg/dl. If
sampling error up to 5 mg/dl in the estimate to be
tolerated, how many subjects should be included
in the study at 95 % CI?
 
Given,
Mean( x ) 150mg / dl
S tan dard deviation (s)  30 mg / dl
Allowabl error (d )  5mg / dl
Sample size(n)  ?
 z 2s 2
n
d2
1 . 96 2302

52
 3 . 84 X 900
25
 138.29  138

The required sample size is 138.

 Sample size for estimation of
proportion
Tools required
• Proportion (p)
• Allowable error (d)
• The value of normal variate (Z)
 Example for estimation of Proportion
In a Health Information System (HIS), survey regarding
maternal and child health care, the proportion of eligible
couple used family planning device was 0.34. It is desired
to obtain an estimate proportion (p) that is not more than
0.05 away from true proportion and to be with 95 % CI
what should be the sample size?
 
 
Given,

Pr oportion( p)  0.34
Allowable Error (d )  0.05
Normal value (Z )  1.96
Sample size (n)  ?
 z 2 pq 1.962 (0.34) (0.66)
n 
d2 0.052
1 .96 2 (0.34) (0.66)

0.052
 3.84 X 0.2244
0.0025
 0.8616
0.0025
 344.67  345

The required sample size is 345.

Practical Exercises on Sample Size Determination

1. Mean pulse rate of population is believed to be

70 per minute with standard deviation of 8
beats. Calculate the minimum sample size to
verify this, if allowable error (d) = ±1 beat at 5%
risk.
2.Incidence rate in the last influenza epidemic was
found to be 50 per thousand (5 %) of population
exposed. What should be the size of sample to find

incidence rate in current epidemic if allowable error

is 10 % of p?