Note: All of the course learning objectives are given in one document on myStat135.
Here are the objectives related to Sampling – the topic of the first four chapters of the
text and the first lab. Bolded objective is the one for the lab report.
Lab 1. Learning objectives.
Sampling (Chapters 1 through 4)
Understand key principles of sampling:
1. The potential for bias from a convenience sample.
2. Simple random samples give an unbiased picture of the sampling frame.
3. Introducing randomness in the sampling scheme means that things we
measure will vary from sample to sample; but this variation will have a
predictable pattern if we repeated the procedure over and over.
4. Learn how to recognize and contrast common types of nonsampling error
including missing data (or nonresponse), response errors, processing errors, or
a biased method of collection.
5. Learn how to recognize and contrast common types of sampling error
including undercoverage and random sampling error.
6. Identify various components of the sampling paradigm in polls including
population, sample, parameter, and statistic.
Understand the key aspects of the margin of error:
7. Increasing the sample size reduces the margin of error but does not help
with bias.
8. The population size does not influence the margin of error.
9. Increasing the confidence level increases the margin of error.
10. The margin of error accounts only for random sampling errors.
11. Be able to interpret a confidence statement.
