Survey Methodology
Exploring a skewness conjecture: Expanding Cochran’s rule to a proportion estimated from a complex sample

by Phillip S. Kott and Burton LevineNote 1

  • Release date: December 20, 2024
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Abstract

Cochran’s rule states that a standard (Wald) two-sided 95% confidence interval around a sample mean drawn from a population with positive skewness is reasonable when the sample size is greater than 25 times the square of the skewness coefficient of the population. We investigate whether a variant of this crude rule applies for a proportion estimated from a stratified simple random sample.

Key Words:      Effective sample size; Skewness coefficient; Suppression rule; Third central moment.

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How to cite

Kott, P.S., and Levine, B. (2024). Exploring a skewness conjecture: Expanding Cochran’s rule to a proportion estimated from a complex sample. Survey Methodology, 50(2), 543-551. Paper available at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/12-001-x/2024002/article/00001-eng.pdf.

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ISSN : 1492-0921

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Survey Methodology publishes articles dealing with various aspects of statistical development relevant to a statistical agency, such as design issues in the context of practical constraints, use of different data sources and collection techniques, total survey error, survey evaluation, research in survey methodology, time series analysis, seasonal adjustment, demographic studies, data integration, estimation and data analysis methods, and general survey systems development. The emphasis is placed on the development and evaluation of specific methodologies as applied to data collection or the data themselves. All papers will be refereed. However, the authors retain full responsibility for the contents of their papers and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board or of Statistics Canada.

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© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2024

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Catalogue No. 12-001-X

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