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Chapter 13: Confidence Intervals – Small Samples
CHAPTER 13
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Confidence Intervals
Small Samples
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You should study the topics in this chapter if you need to review
or want to learn about
The t-distribution
Small-sample confidence intervals for a single population mean
Small sample confidence intervals for the difference between two
population means using independent samples
Small sample confidence intervals for the difference between two
population means using dependent samples
13-1 Introduction
Recall, in Chapter 11, we presented content with regards to large sample
confidence intervals. In this chapter, we will consider small sample
confidence intervals. In particular, we will be dealing with a population
mean or the difference between two population means. Also recall that
when a point estimate is used to estimate a parameter of interest, we know
that it is unlikely that the value of the point estimate will be equal to the
value of the parameter. One strategy is to use the value of the point estimate
as a starting point to help construct an interval estimate for the parameter.
We will then be able to state, with some degree of confidence that the
parameter will be within the interval, and because of this, we refer to these
intervals as confidence intervals. Typically, we consider 90 percent, 95
percent, and 99 percent confidence interval estimates for parameters, but any
other percentage can be considered.
Here we will focus on small-sample confidence intervals for the population
mean. We will consider both the single population and two population