ACCA Applied Knowledge · Management Accounting · Sampling methods
A company wants to survey its 4,000 customers but has no complete list of them. Which of the following is a key disadvantage of using random sampling in this situation?
The disadvantage is that random sampling needs a sampling frame, a complete list of the population. Without a list of customers, items cannot be numbered and chosen by chance, so simple random sampling cannot be carried out in this situation.
- AIt cannot be used with large populations
- BIt requires a sampling frame, which is unavailableCorrect
- CIt always produces biased results
- DIt cannot be analysed statistically
Explanation
Simple random sampling requires a complete numbered list of the population (a sampling frame) so that each item can be selected by chance. Without one, random selection is not possible. The other options are untrue: random sampling works with large populations, is designed to reduce bias, and allows statistical analysis.
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