[Anonymous]

I am just wondering, the effect that population size has on sample size. I’ve heard it both ways. My friend’s notes say “population size has little to no effect on sample size.” But then I have answered multiple choice questions where population size was the answer pertaining to the biggest effect on sample size. Does anyone have any clarity on this? Thanks,

[SullivanNJD]

Pop size has little effect on sample size. For sample size you have to consider factors such as expected deviations, tolerable rate and certain risks. You shouldn't lower a sample just because its from a smaller population

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[spartancpa15]

Depends on if you are testing variables or attributes. When testing attributes (controls) population size has little to no effect on sample size, because it is assumed the population is very large. When testing variables, however, population size is directly related to sample size.

FAR - Aug '14 - 90
AUD - Jan '15 - 91
REG - May '15 - 93
BEC - July '15 - 85

Used CPAexcel exclusively
Master of Science in Accounting (focus in Tax) May '15

[Anonymous]

Awesome, make sense. Thanks Guys!

[SullivanNJD]

I didn't know for variables sampling population size does effect sample size, are you using Becker, spartan?

FAR- 87
REG- 81
AUD- 88
BEC-

Who's Better Than Us? nobody

[spartancpa15]

SullivanNJD, I am using CPAexcel

FAR - Aug '14 - 90
AUD - Jan '15 - 91
REG - May '15 - 93
BEC - July '15 - 85

Used CPAexcel exclusively
Master of Science in Accounting (focus in Tax) May '15

[Anonymous]

The population size for variable sampling could be as equally as large or larger as the size of population for attribute sampling, so I don't see how the population makes much of a difference for testing of controls vs. substantive testing.

From my review of Becker, the most important concept to keep in mind was of all the sampling factors the population size is generally the least important. Population size seems to be the sucker's answer every time for questions about factors that affect sampling size.

[Author]

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