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Slovin's Formula for Researchers

Slovin's formula is used to calculate the sample size (n) needed from a population of size (N), given a margin of error (e). It is computed as n = N / (1 + Ne^2). The formula is used when nothing is known about the population's behavior. To use it, the desired margin of error is determined and then plugged into the formula along with the population size to obtain the required sample size. Examples are provided to demonstrate calculating sample sizes for populations of 1,000,000 and 1,000 using margins of error of 25% and 5% respectively.

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242 views2 pages

Slovin's Formula for Researchers

Slovin's formula is used to calculate the sample size (n) needed from a population of size (N), given a margin of error (e). It is computed as n = N / (1 + Ne^2). The formula is used when nothing is known about the population's behavior. To use it, the desired margin of error is determined and then plugged into the formula along with the population size to obtain the required sample size. Examples are provided to demonstrate calculating sample sizes for populations of 1,000,000 and 1,000 using margins of error of 25% and 5% respectively.

Uploaded by

reekha Aeo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

1.

Slovin's Formula
Slovin's formula

- is used to calculate the sample size (n) given the population size (N) and a margin of error (e).

- it's a random sampling technique formula to estimate sampling size

-It is computed as n = N / (1+Ne2).


whereas:
n = no. of samples
N = total population
e = error margin / margin of error

When to use slovin's formula?

- If a sample is taken from a population, a formula must be used to take into account confidence
levels and margins of error. When taking statistical samples, sometimes a lot is known about a
population, sometimes a little and sometimes nothing at all. For example, we may know that a
population is normally distributed (e.g., for heights, weights or IQs), we may know that there is a
bimodal distribution (as often happens with class grades in mathematics classes) or we may have
no idea about how a population is going to behave (such as polling college students to get their
opinions about quality of student life). Slovin's formula is used when nothing about the behavior
of a population is known at at all.

How to use slovin's formula? (Examples)

- To use the formula, first figure out what you want your error of tolerance to be. For example, you
may be happy with a confidence level of 95 percent (giving a margin error of 0.05), or you may
require a tighter accuracy of a 98 percent confidence level (a margin of error of 0.02). Plug your
population size and required margin of error into the formula. The result will be the number of
samples you need to take.

 In research methodology, for example N=1000 and e=0.05

n = 1000 / (1 + 1000 * 0.5²)


n = 1000 / (1 + 250)
n = 3.984063745 = 4 samplings

 A researcher plans to conduct a survey. If the population on High City is 1,000,000 , find
the sample size if the margin of error is 25%
First : Convert the Margin Error 25% by dividing it to 100
Given:
N = 1,000,000
e = 25% = 0.025

n = 1,000,000/(1 + 1,000,000 ·0.025² )


n = 1,000,000/(1 + 1,000,000 · 0.000625 )
n = 1,000,000/(1 + 625 )
n = 1,000,000/626
n = 1597.44 or approx. 1597

 Suppose that you have a group of 1,000 city government employees and you want to survey
them to find out which tools are best suited to their jobs. You decide that you are happy
with a margin of error of 0.05. Using Slovin's formula, you would be required to survey n
= N / (1 + Ne^2) people:

1,000 / (1 + 1000 * 0.05 * 0.05) = 286

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