Determine how to choose a sample from the electronic community and the appropriate size for it
You probably can make use from this paper:Determining Sample Size for Research Activities, by R V Krejcie and D W Morgan, 1970, in :Educational and Psychological
Measurement.
Sample size for what purpose?
And what exactly do you mean by 'electronic community'?
To determine the sample size when conducting a study on the electronic community, you will need to consider the following factors:
- Population size: The population size is the total number of people in the electronic community that you are interested in studying. If the population size is small, you will need to include a larger proportion of the population in your sample to get accurate results.
- Margin of error: The margin of error is the maximum amount of error that you are willing to accept in your results. A smaller margin of error will require a larger sample size.
- Confidence level: The confidence level is the probability that your sample results will be accurate. A higher confidence level will require a larger sample size.
- Expected variance: The expected variance is a measure of how much the values of your variable are likely to vary. A higher expected variance will require a larger sample size.
Once you have considered all of these factors, you can use a sample size calculator to determine the minimum sample size needed for your study. There are many different sample size calculators available online, so you can find one that is appropriate for your specific study design.
Here are some additional tips for determining the sample size for a study on the electronic community:
- If you are unsure about the population size or the expected variance, you can use a conservative estimate. A larger sample size will always be better than a smaller sample size.
- If you are unable to get a random sample, you should try to get a sample that is representative of the population. This means that the sample should include people from all different backgrounds and with all different levels of participation in the electronic community.
- If you are conducting a longitudinal study, you will need to factor in the attrition rate. The attrition rate is the percentage of people who are likely to drop out of the study over time. A higher attrition rate will require a larger sample size at the beginning of the study.
If you have any questions about determining the sample size for a study on the electronic community, you should consult with a statistician or other expert.
While there are contextual differences between disciplines, a good starting point is considering the volume of participants required dependent on your study design. G-power is a great place to start and can be downloaded for free here: https://download.cnet.com/g-power/3000-2054_4-10647044.html