I want to do a descriptive analysis using the World Values Survey dataset which has an N=1200. However, even thought I have searched a lot, I haven't found the methodology or a tool to calculate the sample size I need to get meaningful comparisons when I cross variables. For example, I want to know how many observations do I need in every category if I want to compare the social position attributed to the elderly over sex AND over ethnic group. That is (exemplying even more), the difference between the black vs indigenous women in my variable of interest. What if I have 150 observations in black women? Is that enough? How to set the threshold?
Expressing my gratitude in advance,
Santiago.
I suggest you investigate using the G*Power program to determine the power of your samples in detecting statistically significance.
Dear Santiago Valdivieso ,
It is difficult to set a threshold. 150 observations, as in your case, can be acceptable.
The information on sampling procedures is available at the website. You have to look at each country separately (e.g., http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/WVSDocumentationWV7.jsp on the righ side) to see the strata in each case. Usually, representativeness is set in geographical terms rather than in terms of groups. Overall, in the WVS, I assume that it will be representative at the country level or, at best, at the regional level (with about 10 regions by country or so).
In order to compare different groups, just apply inference (standard errors and confidence intervals for the differences across groups): you will be taking into account the number of observations in each group.
I hope it helps.
Regards,
José-Ignacio
I suggest you investigate using the G*Power program to determine the power of your samples in detecting statistically significance.
There no sample size requirement for a DESCRIPTIVE discussion. Simply say how many you have and how selected. D. Booth
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