ACCA Applied Knowledge · Management Accounting · Sampling methods
A population consists of 2,400 stock items. A sample of 120 items is to be selected by systematic sampling from a numbered list of all items, with the first item chosen at random from the first interval. If the random start is item 7, which item will be the fourth selected?
The interval is 2,400 divided by 120, which is 20. Starting at item 7, the selections are 7, 27, 47 and 67, so the fourth selected item is 67.
- A67
- B87Correct
- C80
- D27
Explanation
The sampling interval is 2,400 ÷ 120 = 20. Items selected are 7, 27, 47, 67, 87, so the fourth selected is 67 if 7 is the first: 7, 27, 47, 67. Hence the fourth is 67. Option 87 is the fifth item, an off-by-one error.
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