Sample size for pilot studies

Pilot studies are experiments that aim at providing a range (confidence interval) of values for a parameter of interest (it may be the standard deviation of a given parameter, its mean, the proportion of individuals fulfilling some condition, ...). The sample size of the experiment will determine the accuracy of our confidence interval (more accurate intervals will require more samples in our experiment). This calculator helps to solve for the sample size when we know the accuracy we want to achieve. Alternatively, if we cannot afford more than N samples, then the calculator helps to determine the accuracy that will be achieved. In this white paper you can see the theory and practice associated to these experiment designs. The source code can be downloaded from here


Choose the quantity you want to estimate in your pilot study