Author Question: Explain how the natural variability in the population can affect a test's ability to detect a ... (Read 52 times)

acc299 · **on:** Jul 24, 2018

Explain how the natural variability in the population can affect a test's ability to detect a difference or relationship in the population that actually does exist.

Question 2

What is the statistical reason that small samples result in a harder time detecting real relationships or differences in the population than large samples? (Assume data quality is not an issue.)

parshano · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 24, 2018

Answer to Question 1

THE MORE NATURAL VARIABILITY THERE IS IN A POPULATION, THE HARDER IT IS FOR A TEST TO DETECT A DIFFERENCE OR RELATIONSHIP THAT EXISTS.

Answer to Question 2

SMALL SAMPLES HAVE MORE VARIABILITY FROM SAMPLE TO SAMPLE, MAKING IT HARDER FOR THE TEST TO RULE OUT CHANCE AS THE EXPLANATION FOR THE RELATIONSHIP OR DIFFERENCE.