SCS 2150 Study Guide - Final Guide: Simple Random Sample, Sampling Frame, Sample Size Determination

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Social Sciences
• Course: SCS 2150
• Professor: Stephanie Mullen

Document Summary

Population: the group that we wish to generalize about. Sample: a smaller group of people that is selected to represent the characteristics of and make generalizations about the greater population under study. Unit of analysis; geographic location; time period. Efficient; less expensive; restricted to certain time frame; less data collection and entry; can provide accurate estimates of the population parameters (the sample is simply a means to an end). This is the ability for a sample to reflect the characteristics of the population it is supposed to represent. Three factors influencing the representativeness of a sample: the accuracy of the sampling frame; the sample size; the method by which the sample is selected. A weakness with respect to one cannot be compensated by a strength with respect to another. This is a list of all the units in the target population. The challenge is to find one that minimizes inaccuracies in the sample.