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Statistics for Decision- Making in Business - Maricopa Community ...

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3) We cannot use this sample to calculate the correspond<strong>in</strong>g parameter because of sampl<strong>in</strong>g<br />

variability. However, if this sample behaves like the population, then we can resample<br />

from it and get an idea of the overall variability. That is, draw a sample of the same<br />

sample size from this “m<strong>in</strong>i” population, but do so with replacement. This is the same<br />

idea as roll<strong>in</strong>g a die a fixed number of times – we are sampl<strong>in</strong>g with replacement from<br />

the population 1,2,3,4,5, 6. What will this do It will account <strong>for</strong> sampl<strong>in</strong>g variability, if<br />

repeated.<br />

4) Calculate the statistic from this sample and record it.<br />

5) Repeat steps 3) and 4) 1,000 to 10,000 times. We now have a sampl<strong>in</strong>g distribution and<br />

can make estimates about the true population parameter. And, guess what this distribution<br />

will look like You guessed it – it will be approximately normal, by the Central Limit<br />

Theorem.<br />

Below is a diagrammatic representation of steps 1) – 5):<br />

Sample 1<br />

Sample 2<br />

Sample 3<br />

Population<br />

Random<br />

Sample,<br />

Sample 4<br />

.<br />

.<br />

.<br />

Sample 10,000<br />

Some of the assumptions we make are <strong>in</strong>deed dangerous. For example, do we really have a m<strong>in</strong>i<br />

population If the answer is “no,” then theoretical results are equally worthless s<strong>in</strong>ce they, too,<br />

assume that the sample is representative.<br />

<strong>Statistics</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Decision</strong>-<strong>Mak<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> Bus<strong>in</strong>ess © Milos Podmanik Page 193

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