Setting sample size to ensure narrow confidence intervals for precise estimation of population values.

BACKGROUND

Sample sizes set on the basis of desired power and expected effect size are often too small to yield a confidence interval narrow enough to provide a precise estimate of a population value.

APPROACH

Formulae are presented to achieve a confidence interval of desired width for four common statistical tests: finding the population value of a correlation coefficient (Pearson r), the mean difference between two populations (independent- and dependent-samples t tests), and the difference between proportions for two populations (chi-square for contingency tables).

DISCUSSION

Use of the formulae is discussed in the context of the two goals of research: (a) determining whether an effect exists and (b) determining how large the effect is. In addition, calculating the sample size needed to find a confidence interval that captures the smallest benefit of clinical importance is addressed.