RobertNiles.com
About Robert
Reporting Help
Finding Data on the Internet
Questions for Candidates
Stats Lessons
Mean
Median
Percent
Per capita
Standard Deviation
Margin of Error
Data Analysis
Sample Sizes
Stats Tests
Help Board
Bookstore


A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper

Read about reporters who blew it when trying to write about stats. A mathematician leads you through the tricks, citing contemporary examples.
More information
-->

Home > Statistics Every Writer Should Know > The Stats Board > Discusssion

Sampling Error
Message posted by Richard Regnier on January 10, 2000 at 12:00 AM (ET)

I'd just like to ask what a sampling error actually is. What would a definition of it be.


READERS RESPOND:
(In chronological order. Most recent at the bottom.)

Re: Sampling Error
Message posted by Bill on January 11, 2000 at 12:00 AM (ET)

Sampling error means sampling variability and refers to the fact that the vagaries of chance will nearly always ensure that one sample will differ from another, even if the two samples are drawn form the same target population in exactly the same random way. These potential differences are measured by "sampling error," but a mistake, or error in the goof sense, is certainly not implied. All that is meant is that the estimates differ from each other solely as a result of random selection. From: Williams, Bill. A sampler on sampling. John Wiley Press. 1978.



Your $5 contribution helps cover part the $500 annual cost of keeping this site online.

Niles Online Sites:RobertNiles.comTheme Park InsiderViolinist.com

RobertNiles.com™, the site, content and services 咀opyright 1996-2002, Robert Niles.
All rights reserved. Questions? Comments? Read my Privacy Policy, or E-mail me!