SOCR EduMaterials Activities SampleMeanExperiment

From SOCR
Jump to: navigation, search

Sample Mean Experiment

Description

The applet is part of the SOCR Experiments: Sampling Distribution (CLT) Experiment, which demonstrates the properties of the sampling distributions of various sample statistics. This applet can be used to demonstrate the Central Limit Theorem (CLT) as well as:

1. Investigate the effect of the Native population on various sample statistics 2. Study the effects of the sample-sizes on the sampling distribution 3. Determine which sample statistics may have known distributions (e.g. Normal), under what conditions 4. Explore the relations between Population parameters and their corresponding sample counterparts. For example, population mean/SD and sample mean/SD, symmetry, distribution shape, etc.

Goal

The main focus of the Sample Mean Experiment is to provide a simple simulation of four sampling distributions: normal, gamma, binomial, and Poisson. After using this Java applet, one should have a better understanding of the different types of distribution and have the ability to develop a generalization regarding these allocations.

Experiment

Go to the SOCR Experiment [SOCR Experiment] and select the Sample Mean Experiment from the drop-down list of experiments on the top left. The image below shows the initial view of this experiment:

SOCR Activities SampleMeanExperiment Chui 060107 Fig1.jpg

When pressing the play button, one trial will be executed and recorded in the distribution table below. The fast forward button symbolizes the nth number of trials to be executed each time. The stop button ceases any activity and is helpful when the experimenter chooses “continuous,” indicating an infinite number of events. The fourth button will reset the entire experiment, deleting all previous information and data collected. The “update” scroll indicates nth number of trials (1, 10, 100, or 1000) performed when selecting the fast forward button and the “stop” scroll indicates the maximum number of trials in the experiment.

Normal

When varying the parameters, both distribution graphs are not effects graphically; they remain normal. The image below demonstrates this after many trials:

400px

Gamma

Varying parameter k shifts both graphs to the right. Modifying parameter N also affects the distribution graph on the right as it decreases the spread by increasing the smallest value on the x axis. The image below demonstrates these properties by setting parameter k to a small value and parameter N to a large value:

SOCR Activities SampleMeanExperiment Chui 060107 Fig3.jpg

Binomial

In order for data to be represented more accurately, increasing parameter n will cause the shapes of the two distribution graphs to be more curved which will demonstrate better values for the experiment. Increasing p shifts both graphs to the right and decreasing p shifts both graphs to the left. Lastly, increasing parameter N only creates a more accurate distribution graph on the right and decreasing parameter N makes the graph less precise. The image below illustrates a binomial distribution with a large sample size n, large parameter p, and large size of N:

SOCR Activities SampleMeanExperiment Chui 060107 Fig4.jpg

Poisson

Similar to the rest of the distributions, modifying parameter N only affects the distribution graph on the right. When varying parameter r, both graphs are changed as increasing the parameter will cause the graphs to become more curved, and decreasing the parameter will cause the graphs to become less curved. The image below demonstrates these characteristics:

SOCR Activities SampleMeanExperiment Chui 060107 Fig5.jpg

Applications

The Sample Mean Experiment is a simple application that can be used in many different types of situations such as:

Suppose researchers want to be able to display their research findings. While selecting 50 adults from a building, they found that the probability of people in their specified age range drinking coffee every morning is approximately normal. Using this applet gives them the ability to do so.

Suppose students want to be able to demonstrate their data information from their science labs. They discovered the probability of rain in a given day and chose specified weeks in the year as their sample mean. By using this applet, they are able to vary the parameters and illustrate their findings.



Translate this page:

(default)
Uk flag.gif

Deutsch
De flag.gif

Español
Es flag.gif

Français
Fr flag.gif

Italiano
It flag.gif

Português
Pt flag.gif

日本語
Jp flag.gif

България
Bg flag.gif

الامارات العربية المتحدة
Ae flag.gif

Suomi
Fi flag.gif

इस भाषा में
In flag.gif

Norge
No flag.png

한국어
Kr flag.gif

中文
Cn flag.gif

繁体中文
Cn flag.gif

Русский
Ru flag.gif

Nederlands
Nl flag.gif

Ελληνικά
Gr flag.gif

Hrvatska
Hr flag.gif

Česká republika
Cz flag.gif

Danmark
Dk flag.gif

Polska
Pl flag.png

România
Ro flag.png

Sverige
Se flag.gif