000			02323nam a22002417a 4500
003			ZW-GwMSU
005			20221121114105.0
008			221121b |||||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
040			_aMSU _cMSU _erda
100			_aPearson, Jessica _eauthor
245			_aCounting sheep: sample size and statistical inference in stable isotope analysis and palaeodietary reconstruction _ccreated by Jessica Pearson and Matt Grove
264			_bTaylor & Francis _c2013
336			_2rdacontent _atext _btxt
337			_2rdamedia _aunmediated _bn
338			_2rdacarrier _avolume _bnc
440			_vVolume , number ,
520			_aThe analysis of stable isotopes from biological remains has contributed greatly to archaeological knowledge in recent decades, with major contributions to areas such as prehistoric diet and mobility. The increasing importance of isotopic studies within archaeology has been paralleled by an increasing sophistication of laboratory techniques. At present, however, the relationship between sample size and the strength of the conclusions that can be drawn about the underlying population has received insufficient attention. In this paper we undertake to provide a series of statistical analyses that demonstrate the strength of inference in relation to sample size using a large corpus of carbon and nitrogen isotope measurements of bone collagen from a single species at one site (n = 174). We employ a sub-sampling approach to establish sample sizes at which estimated mean values asymptote, and derive confidence intervals accordingly. Our study quantifies the probability that means calculated from samples of various sizes would contain the estimated true value of the population mean with their 95 per cent confidence limits. Using these results, we suggest that large discrepancies should be expected where fewer than eight samples are used to estimate the population mean, but that sampling redundancy occurs with more than forty samples. We would encourage isotope specialists working with other types of material to undertake similar studies in order to better understand the strengths and limitations of stable isotope data.
650			_a Stable isotopes
650			_aSample size
650			_aAncient diet
856			_uhttps://doi.org/10.1080/00438243.2013.820646
942			_2lcc _cJA
999			_c160533 _d160533