February, 2003
© 2000, 2001, 2003 Scott S. Emerson, M.D., Ph.D.
Problem:
The distribution (or summary measure) for the outcome is not directly
observable
Use a
sample to estimate the distribution (or summary measure) of outcomes
Such an estimate is
thus subject to sampling error
·Quantify
precision of estimates
·Make
decisions about whether population summary measure is in some
range of values
-Hypotheses