ACCA Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) Practice Exam

Non-statistical sampling lacks both randomness in selection and the application of probability theory.

When using non-statistical sampling techniques, selections are made based on the auditor's judgment rather than a random process. This can lead to bias in the selection of items for the sample, as the auditor may inadvertently favor certain items over others based on prior knowledge or expectations. This lack of randomness means that each item in the population does not have an equal chance of being selected, which can impair the reliability of the conclusions drawn from the sample.

Additionally, non-statistical sampling does not involve probability theory, which is essential for determining the likelihood that a sample accurately represents the population. The absence of probability analysis means that the auditor cannot quantify the level of sampling risk, making it difficult to assess the potential risk of misstatement in the financial statements.

Together, these characteristics of non-statistical sampling restrict the auditor’s ability to generalize findings from the sample to the entire population, ultimately affecting the robustness of the audit conclusions drawn from such sampling methods.