A large university campus has 60,000 students. The president of the students' association wants to conduct a survey of the students to determine their views on an increase in the student activity fee. She would like to acquire information about all the students but would also like to compare the school of business, the faculty of arts and sciences, and the graduate school. Describe a sampling plan that accomplishes these goals.
Random sample within each school.
To conduct a survey of the students and acquire information about all the students as well as compare different schools within the university, the president of the students' association can follow the steps below to create a sampling plan:
1. Define the research objectives: Clearly define the purpose of the survey, including why the views on an increase in the student activity fee are being sought and the specific information needed from the different schools.
2. Determine the sample size: To get a representative sample size for the whole university campus, consider using a margin of error calculation based on an acceptable confidence level. The more diverse the sample groups (different schools), the larger the sample size should be.
3. Identify the target population: In this case, the target population is all the students of the university campus. This population includes students from the school of business, the faculty of arts and sciences, and the graduate school.
4. Dividing the population into groups: Divide the population into subgroups based on schools - the school of business, the faculty of arts and sciences, and the graduate school. This will allow for comparing the opinions of students from different schools.
5. Random sampling within each group: Within each school group, use a random sampling technique to select participants. This can be done by using a random number generator or a random selection method, such as drawing numbers from a hat.
6. Determine the proportion of each group in the sample: To ensure the sample is representative, determine the proportion of each school group in the overall sample to match the actual distribution in the university campus. This can be done by calculating the proportion of students from each school based on the total enrollment numbers.
7. Implement the sampling plan: Choose random samples from each school group based on the calculated proportions.
8. Data collection: Conduct the survey using the chosen sample. This can be done through various methods such as online surveys, paper-based questionnaires, or face-to-face interviews.
9. Analyze the data: Tabulate and analyze the survey data separately for each school group to compare the views on the student activity fee increase. Use statistical techniques to identify any significant differences between the groups.
10. Reporting: Summarize the survey findings, including the overall results for the whole campus and the specific findings for each school group. Provide insights and recommendations based on the analysis.
By following these steps, the sampling plan will allow the president of the students' association to gather information about all the students and compare the different schools' views on the student activity fee increase.
To conduct a survey with the goal of gathering information about all 60,000 students while also comparing the views of students from different schools, a stratified sampling plan can be utilized. Here's how it can be done:
1. Divide the population into three strata based on the school affiliation - school of business, faculty of arts and sciences, and graduate school.
2. Determine the proportionate sample sizes for each stratum based on the size of the respective school. For example, if the school of business has 10,000 students, and the faculty of arts and sciences has 30,000 students, and the graduate school has 20,000 students, you can consider taking a sample that is proportional to their sizes. Let's assume you want a sample size of 1,000 students. In this case, you would select 100 students from the school of business, 300 students from the faculty of arts and sciences, and 200 students from the graduate school.
3. Randomly select the required number of students from each stratum. To ensure randomness, you can use a random number generator or a random method such as drawing names from a hat.
4. Once the sample is selected, you can reach out to the chosen students to participate in the survey. Provide them with a clear explanation of the purpose and importance of the survey to encourage their involvement.
By implementing this stratified sampling plan, you will have data representing all 60,000 students while also allowing for comparisons between the school of business, faculty of arts and sciences, and the graduate school. With the collected responses, you can analyze and draw conclusions about the entire student population while examining any differences or commonalities among the three schools.