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DeanOMac · 03-01-2006, 04:30 PM

I just worked on this in school not to long ago. Aaron has explained it pretty good. You first determine how strong you want your data to be, most go around 95%. Once you have done that, you then determine n (your sample size).
You can approach it a few different ways as well. The 3 that immediately come to mind are: Stratified Sampling, Cluster Sampling or a Simple Random Sample. Stratified is when they are in groups (as they are already) and you select a portion from EACH group. Cluster may not be the best here because you are suppose to randomly select THE GROUPS you will draw from (must be random) and then take a simple random sample from each group. Simple Random Sample is if you just put all into one group not caring what area they are from, and selecting whatever is decided to be your ideal sample size.
Cluster and Stratified should yield more precise (or at the worst, same precision) as a SRS.

Depending on which way you go there are different numbers you would use from each group. Sorry I didn't give you any set numbers but it really does depend.

03-01-2006, 04:30 PM	#6
DeanOMac Scoring Winger Join Date: Oct 2001 Exp:	I just worked on this in school not to long ago. Aaron has explained it pretty good. You first determine how strong you want your data to be, most go around 95%. Once you have done that, you then determine n (your sample size). You can approach it a few different ways as well. The 3 that immediately come to mind are: Stratified Sampling, Cluster Sampling or a Simple Random Sample. Stratified is when they are in groups (as they are already) and you select a portion from EACH group. Cluster may not be the best here because you are suppose to randomly select THE GROUPS you will draw from (must be random) and then take a simple random sample from each group. Simple Random Sample is if you just put all into one group not caring what area they are from, and selecting whatever is decided to be your ideal sample size. Cluster and Stratified should yield more precise (or at the worst, same precision) as a SRS. Depending on which way you go there are different numbers you would use from each group. Sorry I didn't give you any set numbers but it really does depend.