Sample Size

Estimation

1
TWO WAYS
EMPIRICAL
ANALYTICAL

2
 REQUIREMENTS
1 – THE PARAMETERS
(PROPORTION OR AVERAGE)
2 – THE DEGREE OF PRECISSION (α)

3 – THE DESIRED CONFIDENCE LEVEL (Z)

4 – THE ESTIMATED DEGREE OF VARIABILITY

OF OBSERVATION (STANDARD DEVIATION)

3
 EXAMPLE 1
ESTIMATING THE MEAN
Q1 WHAT PARAMETER DO YOU
WANT TO STUDY
ANSWER I WANT TO ESTIMATE
THE AVERAGE INCREASE IN BODY
WTS OF INFANT RATS GIVEN
TREATMENT A WITH A CERTAIN
PERIOD OF TIME
4
 Q2 WHAT IS EXPECTED S.D.
• S.D. = 20 GM
• Q 3 HOW MUCH ERROR TOLERABLE
• ANSWER A : 10 GM OR LESS
• ANSWER B 5% OF AVERAGE
• Q 4 WHAT IS AVERAGE
• ANSWER MEAN = 100GM
• HOW CONFIDENT DO YOU WANT TO
BE ?
• 95% = {Z}
5
 IN CASE OF ANS A TO Q3

N= (Z )2 (S)2
e2

= 1.96x1.96x20x20
= 16
10x10

6
 IN CASE OF ANS B TO Q3

N= (Z )2 (S)2
e2

= 1.96 x 1.96 x 20 x 20 = 62
5X5

7
Sample size es

8
IN CASE OF prevalence as 20%
N= (Z )2(pq)

e2

= 1.96x1.96x20x80
= 246
5x5

9
IN CASE OF prevalence as 20%

N= (Z )2(pq)

e2

= 1.96x1.96x20x80
= 246 X25 =
1x1

10
 Objectives
At the end of session participant will be
able to:
Understand the role of standard deviation
in estimating sample size in continuous
type of data
Understand the role of proportion in
estimating sample size in discrete type of
data
Effect of confidence interval on the
sample size 11
 Tutorial
A study has been planned to estimate the
Factors effecting the prevalence of
hypertension in a community.
The prevalence of hypertension from
some previous study in the same area was
10%. Assuming the standard confidence
interval as well as level of significance,
What sample size should be selected to
have an appropriate confidence interval
regarding proportion. 12