Skip to content

ACCA Applied Knowledge · Management Accounting · Sampling methods

Which of the following is the most likely reason a management accountant would choose to sample rather than examine every item in a population?

Management accountants sample because examining the whole population is often too costly or slow, or because testing destroys the items. Sampling does not remove error or guarantee a perfect match to the population, and small populations are often checked in full.

  1. ASampling removes all possibility of error in the conclusions
  2. BExamining the whole population is often too costly or time-consuming, or testing may destroy the itemsCorrect
  3. CSampling guarantees that the sample matches the population exactly
  4. DSampling is required whenever the population is small

Explanation

Sampling is used because checking every item can be too expensive, slow, or destructive (for example testing product lifespan). It does not remove error, as sampling error remains, and does not guarantee a perfectly representative result. Small populations are often fully examined.

Did you get it right without looking?

One question tells you little. A timed set on Sampling methods shows your real accuracy, how long you take and where you lose marks.

Practise Sampling methodsFree diagnostic mock

More Sampling methods questions