STATQ3LAS10
STATQ3LAS10
STATQ3LAS10
INTRODUCTION
This Learning Activity Sheet was designed and written with you in mind. This will
guide you in estimating confidence intervals and sample size to make a research more valid
and reliable. It aims to help you understand the key concepts of estimation of sample mean
and population proportion as well.
Estimation – the act of judging the size, amount, cots, etc., of something.
Estimation is one aspect of inferential statistics; it is the process of estimating the value of
a parameter from information drawn from a sample. In other words, the objective of
estimation is to determine the approximate value of a population parameter on the basis of a
sample statistic. The sample statistic as is referred to as the estimator of the population
parameter. The computed sample statistic is called the estimate.
An estimate may be a point estimate or an interval estimate. A point estimate is the value
of a sample statistic that is used to estimate a population parameter. Generally, whenever
point estimation is utilized, we calculate the margin of error associated with that point
estimation. For the estimation of the population mean, the margin of error is calculated as
follows:
Margin of error = ±1.960𝜎𝑥̅ or ±1.960𝑠𝑥̅
ESTIMATION OF PARAMETERS 1
ACTIVITIES: LET US STUDY
Definition
Confidence interval – the interval defined within the true population where members of the
sample are expected to be found.
Confidence level – the confidence associated with an interval estimate. For example, if an
interval estimation procedure provides intervals such as 95% of the intervals formed using
the procedure will include the population parameter, the interval estimate is said to be
constructed at the 95% confidence level.
Confidence coefficient – the confidence level expressed as a decimal value. For example,
0.95 is the confidence coefficient for a 95% confidence level.
Any value of the confidence level can be selected to create a confidence interval, the more
frequent values are 99%, 95%, and 90%. The following confidence coefficients are 0.99, 0.95,
and 0.90
The formula for the confidence interval of the mean for the specific α is
𝜎 𝜎
𝑥̅ − 𝑧𝛼/2 ( ) < 𝜇 < 𝑥̅ + 𝑧𝛼/2 ( )
√𝑛 √𝑛
𝜎
̅ − 𝑧𝛼/2 ( ) is called the lower confidence limit (LCL).
𝑥
√𝑛
𝜎
̅ + 𝑧𝛼/2 ( ) is called the upper confidence limit (UCL).
𝑥
√𝑛
𝜎
The term 𝑧𝛼/2 ( ) is called the maximum error of estimate. The maximum error estimate is
√𝑛
the maximum of a parameter and the actual value of the parameter. For the specific value,
say α = 0.10, 90% of the sample means will fall within this error value on either side of the
population mean.
Illustrative Example 1
ESTIMATION OF PARAMETERS 2
Solution: Given: n = 300, sample mean = 170 cm, standard deviation = 25 cm, confidence
interval = 95%; thus 𝛼 = 5% and 𝑧𝛼 = 1.960
2
= (167.171, 172.829)
≈ (167, 173)
Thus, the marketing officer is 95 % confident that the employees have a mean height
of 167 to 173 cm.
Illustrative Example 2
8 8
= (29 – 1.645 ( ), 29 + 1.645 ( ))
√40 √40
= (29.92, 31.08)
≈ (26.9, 31.1)
Thus, the confidence interval is 26.9 to 31.1 cubic meters per month.
𝜎
𝐸 = 𝑧𝛼/2 ( )
√𝑛
Solving for n,
𝑧𝛼/2 ∙ 𝜎 2
𝑛= ( )
𝐸
Where
n = sample size
𝜎 = population standard deviation
E = maximum error of estimate
ESTIMATION OF PARAMETERS 3
Illustrative Example 3
Supposed we wish to conduct a survey to observe the average number of hours a
student uses for a social media within a week. Assuming that the standard deviation is 8
hours based on a valid previous research, what should be the sample size to ensure a 90%
confidence interval and a margin of error or 1.5 hours?
Solution:
Given ME = 1.5, standard deivation = 8, and 𝛼 = 90 %. Note the corresponding 𝑧𝛼/2 =
1.645.
𝑧𝛼/2 ∙ 𝜎 2
𝑛= ( )
𝐸
8
n = (1.65 (1.5))2
n = 76.97 ≈ 77
Solution:
Given ME = 4, standard deivation = 9, and 𝛼 = 99 %. Note the corresponding 𝑧𝛼/2 =
2.567
𝑧𝛼/2 ∙ 𝜎 2
𝑛= ( )
𝐸
9
n = (2.567 (4))2
n = 33.36≈ 34
Therefore, to be 99% confident that the estimate differs from the true mean by 4, the
minimum sample size needed is at least 34.
Note: When determining sample size, we always round off the resulting value to the
next whole number
The formula for the confidence interval of the mean for the specific α is
𝜎 𝜎
̅ − 𝑧𝛼/2 ( ) < 𝜇 < 𝑥̅ + 𝑧𝛼/2 ( )
𝑥
√𝑛 √𝑛
𝜎
̅ − 𝑧𝛼/2 ( ) is called the lower confidence limit (LCL).
𝑥
√𝑛
𝜎
̅ + 𝑧𝛼/2 ( ) is called the upper confidence limit (UCL).
𝑥
√𝑛
ESTIMATION OF PARAMETERS 4
ACTIVITIES: LET US PRACTICE MORE
Solution:
Given ME = 1.5, σ = 2.6, and 𝛼 = 95 %. Note the corresponding 𝑧𝛼/2 = 1.960
𝑧𝛼/2 ∙ 𝜎 2
𝑛= ( )
𝐸
2.6
n = (1.960 (1.5))2
Evaluate: 𝑛 ≈ 11.54
Round off to the nearest whole number: 𝑛 = 𝟏𝟐
Therefore, to be 95% confident that the estimate differs from the true mean by
1.5, we need a sample size of at least 12.
Note: When determining sample size, we always round off the resulting value to the
next whole number
_____ 1. An interval that gives an estimated range of values within which the population
parameter is expected to fall is called _______
a. Probability interval b. Confidence interval
c. Confidence level d. estimator
𝜎
_____ 2. What is the expression for?
√𝑛
a. standard error of the mean b. the level of confidence minus one
c. the level of confidence d. the level of confidence plus one
_____ 3. The term 1 – 𝛼 refers to _____
a. the level of significance b. the level of confidence minus one
c. the level of confidence d. the level of confidence plus one
_____ 4. A random sample of 150 lemon fruits was drawn from 3,000 delivered lemons in the
market. The average weight of a sample lemon is 110 g with a standard deviation of 10 g.
What is the 99% confidence interval of the population mean?
a.(11.8, 12.9) b. (14.16, 115.82)
c.(13.6, 14.9) d. (9.75, 12.0)
_____ 5. In the formula for the confidence interval, you will find 𝑧𝛼/2 . What does the
subscript 𝛼/2 refer to?
a. The level of confidence
b. The probability that the confidence interval will contain the population
mean
c. The probability that the confidence interval will not contain the population
mean
d. The area in the lower tail of the sampling distribution of the sample mean
ESTIMATION OF PARAMETERS 5
LEARNING TASK #2: Complete Me!
Complete the table below by supplying the needed information and solve for the appropriate
sample size n. (5 points)
2. A college dean wishes to estimate the average number of hours students spend
doing homework per week. The standard deviation from a previous study is 4.5
hours. How large a sample must be selected if he wants to be 95% confident of
finding whether the true mean differs from the sample mean by 2.1 hours?
CRITERIA Scale
5 4 3 2 1
1. Knowledge
-Recall of mathematical facts is evident
2. Application
-Use of mathematical operation correctly
3. Evaluation
-Accurate and systematic
REFERENCES
https://study.com/learn/sample-size-determination-questions-and-answers
ESTIMATION OF PARAMETERS 6