The classical theory of errors is applied to sample statistics. Two measures of sampling error, |ē| and kσ̅ are presented that can be used in conjunction with conventional methods of statistical inference. The measures have two interpretations. The |ē| measures the amount of a sample result that is expected by chance. The kσ̅ estimates both the proportion of a sample result that is expected by chance and the proportional deviation that is expected between an observed sample statistic and its population parameter.
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