Estimation and Sample Size

The process of estimation is about making educated guesses about a population parameter based on the data gathered from a sample. The accuracy of such guesses highly depends on the sample size - the larger the sample, the more accurate the estimation. However, determining the perfect sample size is a matter of balancing between the necessary statistical precision and the resources available. It is also influenced by the confidence level and margin of error that are acceptable.

Finding Standard Error

A researcher is interested in estimating the average height of men in a certain city. She collects data from a random sample of 50 men and finds that the average height is 5.8 feet with a standard deviation of 0.6 feet. What is the standard error of the sample mean?