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ERIC Number: EJ1207958
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Apr
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0278-7393
EISSN: N/A
Sample Size Weighting Follows a Curvilinear Function
Obrecht, Natalie A.
Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, v45 n4 p614-626 Apr 2019
Previous research is mixed regarding whether laypeople are sensitive to sample size. Here the author argues that this is in part because sample size sensitivity follows a curvilinear function with decreasing sensitivity as sample size become larger. This functional form reconciles apparent discrepancies in the literature, accounting for results where sample size is greatly attended to or nearly overlooked. The curvilinear form is found across confidence and estimation tasks that have square-root and linear normative standards. Thus, although people intuitively know that larger samples provide more reliable information, they do not modulate how they weight sample size in different circumstances. Further, individuals higher in numeracy show greater sensitivity to sample size than those lower numeracy (i.e., have a steeper curvilinear slope), but still underweight it relative to normative standards. Providing raw data can boost sample size use for individuals who are lower in numerical ability.
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A