+or- 5%
Statistical sampling is an objective approach using probability to make an inference about the population. The method will determine the sample size and the selection criteria of the sample. The reliability or confidence level of this type of sampling relates to the number of times per 100 the sample will represent the larger population. Non-statistical sampling relies on judgment to determine the sampling method,the sample size,and the selection items in the sample.
A sample size of one is sufficient to enable you to calculate a statistic.The sample size required for a "good" statistical estimate will depend on the variability of the characteristic being studied as well as the accuracy required in the result. A rare characteristic will require a large sample. A high degree of accuracy will also require a large sample.
With a good sample, the sample mean gets closer to the population mean.
With a probabilistic method, each member of the population has the same probability of being selected for the sample. Equivalently, given a sample size, every sample of that size has the same probability of being the sample which is selected. With such a sample it is easier to find an unbiased estimate of common statistical measures. None of this is true for non-probabilistic sampling.
Sample size determination is the act of choosing the number of observations or replicates to include in a statistical sample. The sample size is an important feature of any empirical study in which the goal is to make inferences about a population from a sample.For Confidence level c, and the critical value of Zc is the number such that the area under the statndard normal curve between -Zc and Zc equals C.n > (zcσ/E)2
Statistical sampling is an objective approach using probability to make an inference about the population. The method will determine the sample size and the selection criteria of the sample. The reliability or confidence level of this type of sampling relates to the number of times per 100 the sample will represent the larger population. Non-statistical sampling relies on judgment to determine the sampling method,the sample size,and the selection items in the sample.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistical_power
A sample size of one is sufficient to enable you to calculate a statistic.The sample size required for a "good" statistical estimate will depend on the variability of the characteristic being studied as well as the accuracy required in the result. A rare characteristic will require a large sample. A high degree of accuracy will also require a large sample.
There is no "ideal" sample size for any given population, because polls and other statistical analysis forms depend on many factors, including what the survey is intended to show, who the target audience is, how much statistical error is permitted, and so on. The "Survey System" link, below, offers definitions and a couple of calculators to determine the best sample size for most purposes.
The larger the sample, the lower the % error.. so to reduce a % error, increase your sample size.
I've included a couple of links. Statistical theory can never tell you how many samples you must take, all it can tell you the expected error that your sample should have given the variability of the data. Worked in reverse, you provide an expected error and the variability of the data, and statistical theory can tell you the corresponding sample size. The calculation methodology is given on the related links.
... should be increased by a factor of 4. Note that this implies that the only errors are statistical (random) in nature; increasing the sample size won't improve systematic errors.
With a good sample, the sample mean gets closer to the population mean.
Random error and sample size have an inverse relationship...As sample size INCREASES random error DECREASES. There's a good explanation at the related link.
I will assume the sample is random. In general, the larger the sample, the smaller the percentage error will be (the difference between percentages in the sample, and the percentages in the universe from whence the sample is taken). The percentage error tends to go down as the square root of the size of the sample.
With a probabilistic method, each member of the population has the same probability of being selected for the sample. Equivalently, given a sample size, every sample of that size has the same probability of being the sample which is selected. With such a sample it is easier to find an unbiased estimate of common statistical measures. None of this is true for non-probabilistic sampling.
Sample size determination is the act of choosing the number of observations or replicates to include in a statistical sample. The sample size is an important feature of any empirical study in which the goal is to make inferences about a population from a sample.For Confidence level c, and the critical value of Zc is the number such that the area under the statndard normal curve between -Zc and Zc equals C.n > (zcσ/E)2