Determining sample size given true proportion.











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I'm attempting to solve a problem from a statistics course in regards to finding the sample size I need to take when given the Margin of Error, Confidence interval, and 'true proportion' (probability).



The problem follows:




A researcher is interested in determining the proportion of first year university students who have suffered hearing loss from loud music and other big-city sounds. How many students should she give hearing tests to, in order to determine this proportion with a margin of error (half width of confidence interval) of 0.1 using a 95% confidence interval if she believes from previous studies that the true proportion is 0.25.




I've been having some trouble with this part of the course, and I'm not quite sure which formula to apply here. I know I would need an equation for a sample size that relates the above values, If you can provide a suitable formula I'm certain I can go from there. Any help is appreciated, thank you!.










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    up vote
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    down vote

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    I'm attempting to solve a problem from a statistics course in regards to finding the sample size I need to take when given the Margin of Error, Confidence interval, and 'true proportion' (probability).



    The problem follows:




    A researcher is interested in determining the proportion of first year university students who have suffered hearing loss from loud music and other big-city sounds. How many students should she give hearing tests to, in order to determine this proportion with a margin of error (half width of confidence interval) of 0.1 using a 95% confidence interval if she believes from previous studies that the true proportion is 0.25.




    I've been having some trouble with this part of the course, and I'm not quite sure which formula to apply here. I know I would need an equation for a sample size that relates the above values, If you can provide a suitable formula I'm certain I can go from there. Any help is appreciated, thank you!.










    share|cite|improve this question
























      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite











      I'm attempting to solve a problem from a statistics course in regards to finding the sample size I need to take when given the Margin of Error, Confidence interval, and 'true proportion' (probability).



      The problem follows:




      A researcher is interested in determining the proportion of first year university students who have suffered hearing loss from loud music and other big-city sounds. How many students should she give hearing tests to, in order to determine this proportion with a margin of error (half width of confidence interval) of 0.1 using a 95% confidence interval if she believes from previous studies that the true proportion is 0.25.




      I've been having some trouble with this part of the course, and I'm not quite sure which formula to apply here. I know I would need an equation for a sample size that relates the above values, If you can provide a suitable formula I'm certain I can go from there. Any help is appreciated, thank you!.










      share|cite|improve this question













      I'm attempting to solve a problem from a statistics course in regards to finding the sample size I need to take when given the Margin of Error, Confidence interval, and 'true proportion' (probability).



      The problem follows:




      A researcher is interested in determining the proportion of first year university students who have suffered hearing loss from loud music and other big-city sounds. How many students should she give hearing tests to, in order to determine this proportion with a margin of error (half width of confidence interval) of 0.1 using a 95% confidence interval if she believes from previous studies that the true proportion is 0.25.




      I've been having some trouble with this part of the course, and I'm not quite sure which formula to apply here. I know I would need an equation for a sample size that relates the above values, If you can provide a suitable formula I'm certain I can go from there. Any help is appreciated, thank you!.







      statistics normal-distribution sampling confidence-interval






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      asked Nov 16 at 19:54









      Howard P

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      16619






















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          The (approximated) confidence interval for proportions is $$large{left[hat p-underbrace{ z_{1-frac{alpha}{2}}cdot sqrt{frac{hat pcdot (1-hat p)}{n}}}_{textrm{margin error}}, hat p+z_{1-frac{alpha}{2}}cdot sqrt{frac{hat pcdot (1-hat p)}{n}}right]}$$



          We can use the approximated confidence interval if we can apply the central limit theorem. The thumb rule is $n>30$. We can only see later if this condition is fulfilled.



          The given data are $hat p=0.25, alpha=1-0.95=0.05Rightarrow 1-frac{alpha}{2}=0.975$. $z_{0.975}$ is the $z$-value where the cdf of the standard normal distribution is $0.975$. $Phi^{-1} (0.975)=1.96$



          Next you have to solve the equation $1.96cdot sqrt{frac{0.25cdot 0.75}{n}}=0.1$ for $n$.



          Finally check if $n>30$.






          share|cite|improve this answer























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            1 Answer
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            active

            oldest

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            1 Answer
            1






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes








            up vote
            1
            down vote



            accepted










            The (approximated) confidence interval for proportions is $$large{left[hat p-underbrace{ z_{1-frac{alpha}{2}}cdot sqrt{frac{hat pcdot (1-hat p)}{n}}}_{textrm{margin error}}, hat p+z_{1-frac{alpha}{2}}cdot sqrt{frac{hat pcdot (1-hat p)}{n}}right]}$$



            We can use the approximated confidence interval if we can apply the central limit theorem. The thumb rule is $n>30$. We can only see later if this condition is fulfilled.



            The given data are $hat p=0.25, alpha=1-0.95=0.05Rightarrow 1-frac{alpha}{2}=0.975$. $z_{0.975}$ is the $z$-value where the cdf of the standard normal distribution is $0.975$. $Phi^{-1} (0.975)=1.96$



            Next you have to solve the equation $1.96cdot sqrt{frac{0.25cdot 0.75}{n}}=0.1$ for $n$.



            Finally check if $n>30$.






            share|cite|improve this answer



























              up vote
              1
              down vote



              accepted










              The (approximated) confidence interval for proportions is $$large{left[hat p-underbrace{ z_{1-frac{alpha}{2}}cdot sqrt{frac{hat pcdot (1-hat p)}{n}}}_{textrm{margin error}}, hat p+z_{1-frac{alpha}{2}}cdot sqrt{frac{hat pcdot (1-hat p)}{n}}right]}$$



              We can use the approximated confidence interval if we can apply the central limit theorem. The thumb rule is $n>30$. We can only see later if this condition is fulfilled.



              The given data are $hat p=0.25, alpha=1-0.95=0.05Rightarrow 1-frac{alpha}{2}=0.975$. $z_{0.975}$ is the $z$-value where the cdf of the standard normal distribution is $0.975$. $Phi^{-1} (0.975)=1.96$



              Next you have to solve the equation $1.96cdot sqrt{frac{0.25cdot 0.75}{n}}=0.1$ for $n$.



              Finally check if $n>30$.






              share|cite|improve this answer

























                up vote
                1
                down vote



                accepted







                up vote
                1
                down vote



                accepted






                The (approximated) confidence interval for proportions is $$large{left[hat p-underbrace{ z_{1-frac{alpha}{2}}cdot sqrt{frac{hat pcdot (1-hat p)}{n}}}_{textrm{margin error}}, hat p+z_{1-frac{alpha}{2}}cdot sqrt{frac{hat pcdot (1-hat p)}{n}}right]}$$



                We can use the approximated confidence interval if we can apply the central limit theorem. The thumb rule is $n>30$. We can only see later if this condition is fulfilled.



                The given data are $hat p=0.25, alpha=1-0.95=0.05Rightarrow 1-frac{alpha}{2}=0.975$. $z_{0.975}$ is the $z$-value where the cdf of the standard normal distribution is $0.975$. $Phi^{-1} (0.975)=1.96$



                Next you have to solve the equation $1.96cdot sqrt{frac{0.25cdot 0.75}{n}}=0.1$ for $n$.



                Finally check if $n>30$.






                share|cite|improve this answer














                The (approximated) confidence interval for proportions is $$large{left[hat p-underbrace{ z_{1-frac{alpha}{2}}cdot sqrt{frac{hat pcdot (1-hat p)}{n}}}_{textrm{margin error}}, hat p+z_{1-frac{alpha}{2}}cdot sqrt{frac{hat pcdot (1-hat p)}{n}}right]}$$



                We can use the approximated confidence interval if we can apply the central limit theorem. The thumb rule is $n>30$. We can only see later if this condition is fulfilled.



                The given data are $hat p=0.25, alpha=1-0.95=0.05Rightarrow 1-frac{alpha}{2}=0.975$. $z_{0.975}$ is the $z$-value where the cdf of the standard normal distribution is $0.975$. $Phi^{-1} (0.975)=1.96$



                Next you have to solve the equation $1.96cdot sqrt{frac{0.25cdot 0.75}{n}}=0.1$ for $n$.



                Finally check if $n>30$.







                share|cite|improve this answer














                share|cite|improve this answer



                share|cite|improve this answer








                edited Nov 16 at 20:34

























                answered Nov 16 at 20:26









                callculus

                17.6k31427




                17.6k31427






























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