Tom Werner / Getty Images
The standard error formula is a calculation of the standard error of the mean.
The standard error formula depends on the specific statistic in question.
In many cases, it involves looking at the standard error of the mean.
Tom Werner / Getty Images
Psychology researchers utilize the standard error formula to better understand the precision of their sample estimate.
This can be helpful when drawing conclusions about a population based on a sample.
For example, imagine that researchers conduct a study to see how sleep deprivation affects driving performance.
A small standard error provides greater confidence in the generalizability of the findings of a psychological study.
It’s important to note that the steps outlined above apply to calculating the standard error of the mean.
If you oughta calculate the standard error for a different sample statistic, the process will vary.
Determine the sample size (n):
In this example, we have a sample size of 4.
In this example, the standard error of the mean is approximately 4.0285.
What Does Standard Error Tell You?
This means that we can be 95% confident that the actual population mean lies within this range.
They can provide valuable insights, but their use depends on what researchers look at.
Helpful Hint:
you could calculate the standard deviation if you know the standard error.
2012;3(3):113-116. doi:10.4103/2229-3485.100662
Altman DG, Bland JM.Standard deviations and standard errors.BMJ.
2015;68(3):220-223. doi:10.4097/kjae.2015.68.3.220
