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| ===Approach for means and proportions=== | | ===Approach for means and proportions=== |
| The general approach for the calculation of confidence intervals in these cases follows the following steps: | | The general approach for the calculation of confidence intervals in these cases follows the following steps: |
− | * Calculate the sample standard deviation, as an approximation of the population standard deviation: | + | * Calculate the '''sample standard deviation''', as an approximation of the population standard deviation: |
| * Estimate the '''standard error of the mean''' or proportion by dividing the sample standard deviation by the square root of the number of animals sampled. | | * Estimate the '''standard error of the mean''' or proportion by dividing the sample standard deviation by the square root of the number of animals sampled. |
− | * Calculate the sample mean or proportion (as an approximation of the population mean or proportion). | + | * Calculate the '''sample mean''' or '''proportion''' (as an approximation of the population mean or proportion). |
− | * Decide upon the confidence level required (usually 95%), and multiply the estimate of the standard error with the appropriate percentile point of the normal distribution (unless you are estimating the confidence interval for the mean of a small sample, in which case the t-distribution should be used instead). In the case of a 95% confidence interval, this is 1.96. | + | * Decide upon the confidence level required (usually 95%), and '''multiply the estimate of the standard error with the appropriate percentile point of the normal distribution''' (unless you are estimating the confidence interval for the mean of a small sample, in which case the t-distribution should be used instead). In the case of a 95% confidence interval, this is 1.96. |
− | * Subtract the resultant number from the sample mean or proportion to give the lower confidence limit. | + | * Subtract the resultant number from the sample mean or proportion to give the '''lower confidence limit'''. |
− | * Add the number to the sample mean or proportion to give the upper confidence limit. | + | * Add the number to the sample mean or proportion to give the '''upper confidence limit'''. |
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