February 2, 2012 

Calculators of Sample Size

One of the task that evaluators face when designing surveys is the calculation of sample size. The CES Web team has put together a few sample size calculation tools based on their ease of use and statistical parameters. As a disclaimer, we should also specify that other good calculators are available online. Let us know  which ones you use.

• Sample Size Calculator  offers both sample size and confidence interval calculation. While this tool does not offer many parameters to control the level of precision of the calculation, it includes easy-to-understand definitions of common statistical terminology.
• Raosoft  presents a sample size calculator that takes into account the margin of error, the confidence level, and the response distribution. It also offers to show side by side what the margin of error would be like with various sample sizes.
• SampleCalc  has the capacity to calculate both sample size and the margin of error. Among the sample size calculation tools listed here, this is the tool with the most control over the statistical parameters (therefore the most precise). It is also the only one available both in English and in French. SampleCalc takes into account the confidence level, the proportion for the calculation of the margin of error, the design effect value, the margin of error and the expected response rate. One should note the associated DeffCalc  tool which estimates the design effect value due to sample stratification.

Emmanuelle Godbout-Gauthier
Web News Editor

Recent additions January 31, 2012 The Final Version of the Professional Services National Procurement Strategy Is Now Out  January 26, 2012 Last chance! 2012 call for nominations for CES Awards  January 24, 2012 CES Adopts JCSEE's 2011 Program Evaluation Standards  News from 2001  | 2002  | 2003  | 2004  | 2005  | 2006  | 2007  | 2008  | 2009  | 2010  | 2011  | 2012  Latest opportunity  February 3, 2012 Senior Evaluation Specialist  Latest event  January 3, 2012 Application for Credentialed Evaluator (CE) Designation Workshop  Latest conference  February 5, 2012 8th Mixed Methods International Conference  Latest training  February 3, 2012 Making Your Case: Needs Assessments That Get Results (webinar)  Latest text  January 16, 2012 Public Administration and the Impact Economy

Automatic news broadcast (service to members) Has your e-mail address changed? Have you moved? Let the national secretariat  know so that we don't lose touch. CES members are automatically included in the automatic broadcast of the news. If you want to:  exclude your address from the broadcast or  reinstate your address into the broadcast, please enter the address known to the CES and press the button.