Question

Come up with a sample size determination problem. Include whether this is a "mean" sample size determination problem or a "proportion" sample size determination problem. Also include how much error you are willing to have and how much confidence you would like to have and why.

Answer 1

(a) A Sample Size Determination Problem:

To find out how many households serve breakfast in the mornings

(b) This is a "proportion" sample size determination problem

(c) Error we are willing to have = 5 %

(d) Confidence level; 95%

By Cochran's formula:

Here

= 0.05

From Table, critical values of Z = 1.96

Since we do not have any prior information:

Take

p = 0.5

o,

q = 1 - p = 0.5

e = 0.05

Substituting in the formula, we get:

So,

Answer is:

385 houses should be the minimum sample size for the above problem.