Dissertation stats question

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Randell1234, Feb 9, 2009.

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  1. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Do all dissertation samples sizes need to equal 95% confidence and 5% interval? Would 90% / 7% work? Is it up to the school or up to the dissertation committee?

    I am starting to get to the end of the road and really focusing to get this done.
     
  2. sshuang

    sshuang New Member

    What's the topic of your dissertation?



     
  3. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    I think the bottom line is that whatever your committee says is OK is OK.

    Much can depend on the size of sample(s) and, especially, on the tests being applied. While a small sample and a non-parametric test (e.g., chi square) might want a 99/1 or 98/2, while many of the t-tests used will be considered significant at the .1 level (i.e., 90/10).

    (A curious coincidence -- or is it significant -- is that the t-test was invented by Bill Gossett, but not the one who used to contribute here in the early days.)

    --John Bear, who decided not to go to Stanford in
    part because Quinn McNemar taught advanced statistics
    to doctoral students at 7 am, five days a week.
     
  4. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    John's right - it is up to the committee. One of the things that the committee will probably examine is what the standard is in your field of research.

    Shawn
     
  5. geoffs

    geoffs Member

    My Econometrics prof used to say that the 95/5 bit was because it's the default in most stats programs.

    Remember the words of Homer Simpson: "Oh, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. 14% of people know that."
     

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