A suggestion for sample size determination using an instrument for collecting medical data based on discrete items

Abstract

This text suggests on how to calculate a sample size under the use of an instrument for collecting data formed by check-block items. The arguments for this suggestion are based on Combinatorics and Paraconsistency theories. Our purpose is to suggest a practical and simple calculation procedure to obtain an acceptable sample size to collect information, organize it, and analyze data from an application of an instrument for collecting medical data, based exclusively on discrete items (categorical items), i.e., each instrument item is considered a non-parametric variable with finite number of categories. In Bio-sciences it is very common to use survey instruments based on this type of items: clinical protocols, hospital registers, questionnaires, and other inquiring tools consider a sequence of organized categorical items.