Data Collection Flashcards
What’s a population
Entire collection of things you’re investigating.
Size of population
N
Mieuw symbol
Mean of population
Looks like 6 squared symbol.
Variance of population
Census
Survey of all members of population
Advantages of census
Accurate because all members considered
Unbiased
No worries about sampling frames or representative samples
Disadvantages of census
Long costly
Cant test to destruction
Difficult to make sure all pop surveyed and done accurately?
Difficult to process large data sets may not be relevant.
What’s a sample
Selection subset of population
Size of sample
n
Sample mean
X with bar on top
Variance of sample denoted
S squared
Sample unit
Single item of population
Sampling frame
List database of all members of population
Sample survey
Investigation collects data From every member of sample.
Well conducted survey can provide very good estimates.
Advantages of sampling
Large well mixed sample can represent pop
Cheaper and quicker than census
Can test products to destruction
Data readily available can be more detailed and better quality