The importance of sample selection: An instructional resource using U.S. presidential elections

The purpose of this instructional resource is to use a non-auditing situation, predicting the election of the President of the United States, to help students understand the importance of sample selection in drawing inferences about a population. Of particular focus are the importance of understanding the characteristics of the population, using the appropriate sampling unit, the risks of drawing incorrect inferences about a population, and the power and limitations of sampling. These sampling-selection concepts are also applied to a routine auditing task: the confirmation of accounts receivable.

► U.S. presidential elections emphasize the importance of sample selection. ► The instructional resource supplements quantitative aspects of sampling. ► Discussions include the importance of understanding a population’s characteristics. ► Concepts are also applied to the audit task: confirmation of accounts receivable.