Speaking Stata: Finding the denominator: Minimum sample size from percentages

Cox, Nicholas J.

Abstract

Percentage breakdowns for a series of classes or categories are sometimes reported without a specification of class frequencies or even the total sample size. This column surveys the problem of estimating the minimum sample size and class frequencies consistent with a reported breakdown and a particular resolution. I introduce and explain a new command, find_denom. Rounding quirks whereby a total is reported as above or below 100% are discussed as a complication.

Citation

Cox, N. J. (2023). Speaking Stata: Finding the denominator: Minimum sample size from percentages. The Stata Journal, 23(4), 1086-1095. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x231212453

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 21, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 21, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-12
• Deposit Date: Feb 14, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 14, 2024
• Journal: The Stata Journal: Promoting communications on statistics and Stata
• Print ISSN: 1536-867X
• Electronic ISSN: 1536-8734
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 1086-1095
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x231212453
• Keywords: Mathematics (miscellaneous)
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2255200