If it is important to analyze four subgroups of a total sample: married women over 35, single women over 35, married women under 35, and single women under 35 and each group is expected to make up about 25 percent of the total sample, a sample of 400 will only have 100 in each subgroup, what is the problem with the smaller sample size?
A) smaller groups lead to larger sampling errors
B) smaller groups lead to smaller sampling errors
C) larger total samples are needed for subgroups
D) none are problems with small sample sizes

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Smaller groups lead to larger sampling errors because the smaller the sample size, the less representative it is of the larger population it is meant to represent. This increases the likelihood of sampling errors, which occur when the sample data does not accurately reflect the true characteristics of the population. In other words, the smaller the sample size, the less accurate the results are likely to be.

If It Is Important to Analyze Four Subgroups of a Total