Otoslaskuissa

Otoslaskuissa is a Finnish-language term used in statistics to refer to the set of calculations carried out on sample data to infer properties of a larger population. The word is formed from otos, meaning "sample," and lasku, meaning "calculation," with the inessive suffix -ssa, yielding "in the sampling calculations." It appears in Finnish statistical education and literature when describing survey methodology.

Definition and scope: Otoslaskuissa denotes the methodological steps that transform observed sample data into population-level estimates. This includes point estimation (such as a sample mean or proportion), estimation of sampling variance, and construction of confidence intervals. In surveys with complex designs, otoslaskuissa also encompasses weighting, stratification adjustments, and imputation for missing data, as well as design-effect corrections.

Applications: The term is used in market research, public opinion polling, epidemiology, and other fields relying on sample-based inference. It emphasizes the process of computation rather than a single formula, covering both basic and design-aware analyses.

Example: In a stratified random sample of 2,000 individuals drawn from a population of 100,000, otoslaskuissa would include computing the stratified estimator of mean income, its standard error, and a 95% confidence interval, taking account of sample weights and design effects.

See also: sampling, statistical estimation, confidence interval, survey methodology.