Contents

1. What is Sample Size Calculator?
2. How to work with SSC?
3. Where to get SSC?
4. Other interesting information

What is Sample Size Calculator?

[top] Suppose you want to conduct a research to conclude if two populations are different with respect to a certain characteristic or not.

Or you want to know the value of a certain population characteristic as precisely as possible.

One of the first things you then need to decide on is the sample size required to be able to draw valid, sound conclusions.

The free tool "Sample Size Calculator" will tell you how big a sample size you need for any of the following and more situations:

• salary survey
• customer satisfaction investigation
• consumer survey
• employee survey
• marketing surveys
• customer opinion research
• online shopping surveys

Not only will SSC allow you to calculate this sample size, it will also

• let you play with the variables that influence this required sample size, so that you can make sure a small change in one variable does not render your conclusions invalid
• help you understand the relevance of the factors confidence, tolerance and variability
• help you choose the right correction factors for small samples, finite populations and extreme proportions
• apply the correction for nonresponse if necessary
• use one-tailed testing if needed (in case you can predict the direction of the effect you are investigating)

SSC has a simple and straightforward interface with the following main functionalities:

• determine the type of analysis needed based on two dimensions (single value estimation versus difference detecting and means versus proportions as a population characteristic)
• set the values needed for your research, and read the sample size required
• apply corrections depending on the situation of the research
• get help filling out the values
• generate a report for a research case

How to work with SSC?

[top] SSC has a main form with three tabsheets and an export form.

The first tabsheet of the mainform looks like this:

This screen helps you determine the right kind of analysis you need. The "example" at the bottom will allow you to compare the analysis type you chose with a real-world example.

The following screen lets you fill out the necessary values to determine the required sample size:

The third screen is for finetuning. You can check or uncheck some important options. The sample size indicated will change as a result.

When you're done, generate a report by pressing the "Report..." button. Choose the output options and a html report will be generated. You can upload this report to your website if needed. 

How to get SSC?

[top] SSC is available as a free download. Run the installation file to install it. To uninstall SSC, select "uninstall" from the windows program menu.

SSC is written in Borland Delphi 6.0 and does not change any system file. This means you don't risk impacting the functioning of your computer when installing SSC. 

More interesting software and links

• SSC Quickhelp: take a look at the HTML help file that comes with SSC.
   
• Developer's homepage: an overview of more software from the same author.
   
• Murder in the Beguinage: ready for another kind of research? As a police officer, you have been charged with a murder case in the beguinage of Lier.

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