CONFIDENCE LEVEL AND
SAMPLE SIZE
Lesson 6
Lesson objectives:
1. Understand the relation of
confidence interval to sample
size.
2.Determine sample size based
on selected confidence level.
Sample size
FORMULA IN DETERMINING THE MINIMUM SAMPLE SIZE
NEEDED WHEN ESTIMATING THE POPULATION MEAN
NOTE: Since is usually unknown, it can be estimated by sample
standard deviation . Round up the value obtained to ensure the
sample size will be sufficient to achieve the specified reliability.
Example: Replicating a study
r = 106.09 107
Joshua wants to replicate a
study where the lowest
observed value is 12.4 while
the highest is 12.8. He wants to
estimate the population mean
to within an error of 0.025 of its
true value. Using 99%
confidence level, find the
Sample size
FORMULA IN DETERMINING THE MINIMUM SAMPLE SIZE
NEEDED WHEN ESTIMATING THE POPULATION
PROPORTION
NOTE: Round up the resulting value to the nearest whole
number.
Example: detergent x
r = 2339.53 or
2340
Mary wants to know, with 95%
confidence, the proportion of
households who like to use detergent
X. A previous survey showed that
42% like to use detergent X. Mary
likes to be accurate within 2% of the
true proportion. What sample size
does Mary need?
SEATWORK:
1. Find the given the following:
a) 90% confidence, E = 0.01
b) 95% confidence, E = 0.02
c) 99% confidence, E = 0.05
2. Find the sample size for each of the following:
a) 90% confidence, E = 0.08, = 0.38
b) 95% confidence, E = 0.05, = 0.48
c) 99% confidence, E = 0.20, = 0.58
3. A particular brand of coffee contains an average of 112 mg of
caffeine per cup with a standard deviation of 20 mg. Joshua wants to
investigate the same to estimate the true population mean caffeine
content correct to within 5 mg adopting 95% confidence. How many
cups of the same brand of coffee does he need for a sample?
