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How to compute a confidence interval for the population proportion (in R)

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Task

If we have a sample of qualitative data from a normally distributed population, then how do we compute a confidence interval for a population proportion?

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Solution

We’re going to use some fake data here for illustrative purposes, but you can replace our fake data with your real data in the code below.

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# Replace the next two lines of code with your real data
sample_size = 30
sample_proportion = 0.39

# Find the margin of error
alpha <- 0.05       # replace with your chosen alpha (here, a 95% confidence level)
moe <- qnorm(1-alpha/2, 0, 1) * sqrt(sample_proportion*(1-sample_proportion)/sample_size)

# Find the confidence interval
upper_bound <- sample_proportion + moe
lower_bound <- sample_proportion - moe
lower_bound
upper_bound

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[1] 0.2154641



[1] 0.5645359

Our 95% confidence interval is $[0.2155, 0.5645]$.

Content last modified on 24 July 2023.

See a problem? Tell us or edit the source.

Contributed by Elizabeth Czarniak (CZARNIA_ELIZ@bentley.edu)