Learning Guide Module

Subject Code (Stat1) Statistics 1

Module Code 20.0 Sampling Distribution (Part 2)
Lesson Code 20.1 Introduction to the distribution of the sample means
Time Limit 30 mins.

TARGET

After completing this lesson, the student is expected to:

▪ Determine the sampling distribution of the sample mean and describe the distribution.

HOOK

Before we begin the lesson, let us first recall the definition of a sampling distribution. The
distribution of values of a particular statistic in all possible samples of the same sample size from the
population is what we call the sampling distribution of the statistic. For example, suppose the population
size of a research involving high school students is 𝑁 = 40. If we take the proportion of females in all
possible samples of size 𝑛 = 15, we end up with a data set containing numerous proportions. The
probability distribution of this new data set is the sampling distribution of the sample proportion of
females. In this lesson, we will explore the sampling distribution of the sample mean.
The knowledge of the sampling distribution of sample means will be important in the
succeeding topics as this will help us make inferences about the mean of the population. The mean is a
popular statistic in plenty researches. We always talk about average income, average magnitude,
average BMI, average length, etc. Indeed, the sample mean is worth taking into consideration.

IGNITE

This part of the module will guide you through a series of steps for a manual procedure in
investigating the sampling distribution of a sample mean of a given data set. The goal of the procedure
is for you to get a clear picture of the sampling distribution of the sample mean.

For purposes of illustration only, suppose that the population consist of only four leaves with
lengths 3, 5, 7, and 9 cm. Therefore 𝑁 = 4.

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Step 1: Compute the population mean 𝜇 and population standard deviation 𝜎. Write your answers in the
box below.

𝜇 = 6; 𝜎 = 2.236

Step 2: Count the number of all possible samples of size 𝑛 = 2 with replacement. Write your answer
inside the box below.

There are 16 possible samples.

Step 3: List all two elements of each sample in the table below.

Name of Sample 𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋5 𝑋6 𝑋7 𝑋8

1st individual 3 3 3 3 5 5 5 5

2nd individual 3 5 7 9 3 5 7 9

Name of Sample 𝑋9 𝑋10 𝑋11 𝑋12 𝑋13 𝑋14 𝑋15 𝑋16

1st individual 7 7 7 7 9 9 9 9

2nd individual 3 5 7 9 3 5 7 9

Step 3: Compute the mean of each sample. Write the mean of each sample in the 4th row of the table
below.

Name of Sample 𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋5 𝑋6 𝑋7 𝑋8

1st individual 3 3 3 3 5 5 5 5
2nd individual 3 5 7 9 3 5 7 9

Sample mean, 𝑋̅ 3 4 5 6 4 5 6 7

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 Name of Sample 𝑋9 𝑋10 𝑋11 𝑋12 𝑋13 𝑋14 𝑋15 𝑋16

1st individual 7 7 7 7 9 9 9 9

2nd individual 3 5 7 9 3 5 7 9

Sample mean, 𝑋̅ 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9

Step 4: Compute the mean of the sample means, 𝜇𝑋̅ , and the standard deviation of the sample means,
𝜎𝑋̅ . Write your answers in the box below.

𝜇𝑋̅ = 6; 𝜎𝑋̅ = 1.5811

Step 5: Make a conclusion about the relationship between 𝜇 and 𝜇𝑋̅ . Make another conclusion about the
relationship between 𝜎 and 𝜎𝑋̅ . Write your conclusions in the box below.

𝜇𝑋̅ = 𝜇; 𝜎𝑋̅ = 𝜎/√𝑛

Step 6: Create a Frequency Distribution of the sample means.

𝑋̅ frequency

3 1

4 2

5 3

6 4

7 3

8 2

9 1

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Step 7: Create a histogram out of the frequency distribution in step 6.

Step 8: Make an observation and/or conclusion about the shape of the distribution. Write your
observation in the box below.

The sampling distribution of the sample means is approximately normal.

NAVIGATE

Perform the same steps for the population data set {2, 4, 6, 8} (or any other data set containing
four individuals). See if you will end up with the same observations and conclusions. Follow the
instructions of your teacher for the submission of your output. This activity is NOT GRADED.

KNOT

The following are the key take-aways from the activities of this module:

• The mean of the sampling distribution of sample means is equal to the population mean.
• The standard deviation of the sampling distribution of sample means is equal to the population
standard deviation divided by the square root of the sample size.
• The sampling distribution of sample means is normally distributed.

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 References:
Bluman, A. G. (2014). Elementary statistics. McGraw-Hill Education: New York.
De Veaux, R.D., Velleman, P.F., & Bock, D.E. (2012). Stats: Data and models. Pearson Education:
Boston.
Moore, D.S., Notz, W.I., & Fligner, M.A. (2013). The basic practice of Statistics.W.H. Freeman and
Company: New York.

Prepared by: Clifford Jed A. de Leon Reviewed by: Jennifer Ann L. de los Reyes
Position: SST III Position: SST III
Campus: PSHS - CARC Campus: PSHS - EVC

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