Term: Sample Weight

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Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2011-10-24

Definition:

A statistical correction factor that adjusts for sampling bias due to over- or under-representation of certain segments of a population. Using these weights ensures that all estimates can be considered representative of the entire population.

The principle behind estimation in a probability sample such as the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) is that in addition to "representing" themselves, each person in the sample also represents several other people who are not in the sample. For example, in a simple random 2% sample of the population, each person in the sample represents 50 people in the population. Thus, it can be said that each person has a weight of 50.

Related terms 

• Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)

References 

• Fransoo R, Martens P, Prior H, Chateau D, McDougall C, Schultz J, McGowan K, Soodeen R, Bailly A. Adult Obesity in Manitoba: Prevalence, Associations, and Outcomes. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2011. [Report] [Summary] (View)

Term used in 

• Martens P, Nickel N, Forget E, Lix L, Turner D, Prior H, Walld R, Soodeen RA, Rajotte L, Ekuma O. The Cost of Smoking: A Manitoba Study. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2015. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] [Additional Materials] (View)