Sample Planning Wizard: Capabilities

Whether your focus is estimation, hypothesis testing, or survey sampling, finding the right design and correctly analyzing survey results can be a challenge, even for experienced researchers. What sampling method is best? What sample size is required? What is the margin of error? Can I base my calculations on a normal distribution? What formulas should I use to compute standard errors?

Create Powerful Cost-Effective Sampling Plans

Don't stress. The Sample Planning Wizard is packed with features that make it easy to create powerful, cost-effective sampling plans and to correctly analyze research results.

• Work quickly and easily. Whether you are a novice researcher or a world-class statistician, the Sample Planning Wizard can help you find the right design and the right analysis.
  
  
  • Use simple point-and-click inputs to describe the analysis you want to conduct. The Wizard defines terms and guides you smoothly through the steps needed to address your research goals.
  • Statistical computations are performed behind the scenes. The Wizard automatically chooses the right statistical techniques for your design.
  • A final report, written in plain English, appears in seconds. The report describes key findings, documents methodology, and offers suggestions for improvement.
  
  
• Find the optimum sample design. The Wizard allows you to easily assess how different design decisions (sample size, sampling method, etc.) affect the precision and cost of your research. For example, you can quickly find the design that:
  
  
  • Requires the smallest sample size to achieve a specified sampling error.
  • Delivers the smallest sampling error, given a fixed sample size.
  • Delivers the smallest sampling error, given a fixed budget.
  • Achieves a specified sampling error for the smallest cost.
  
  
• Find the best sampling method. Use the Wizard to compare sampling methods and choose the one that best meets your needs.
  
  
  • Simple random sampling. This is sometimes the easiest sampling method to administer, but it is seldom the most cost-effective.
  • Stratified sampling. Compared to simple random samples, stratified samples often provide increased precision and cost-savings.
  • Cluster sampling. In many situations, cluster sampling provides economies for sampling and data collection.
  
  
• Work with small samples. The Sample Planning Wizard automatically uses the right statistical test for your data situation, even with small samples.
  
  
  • Large samples (n > 30). The Wizard assumes that parameter estimates are normally distributed.
  • Mean scores, small samples (n < 30). The Wizard uses a t distribution.
  • Proportions, small samples (n < 30). The Wizard uses a binomial distribution when sampling with replacement; and a hypergeometric distribution when sampling without replacement.
  
  
• Assess statistical power and Type II errors. With hypothesis tests, researchers need to be concerened not only with Type I errors, but also with Type II errors.
  
  
  • You specify effect size (the amount of error your decision can tolerate), and the Wizard automatically calculates the power of your test.
  • Or you specify power, and the Wizard calculates effect size.

The Sample Planning Wizard is a premium product available only to registered users. Registration is quick, easy, and inexpensive. A one-month license costs only $10. > Register now