Home

Credentials

Work History

Sampling Training

Contact Us

  
  

   

  
 
Sampling Training Outline

Full Day Seminar: Overview

This training will assist the applied evaluator in acquiring the skills necessary to apply sampling techniques.  A full day will give the class sufficient time to interact with the material, especially the examples from real world applications and to practice sampling techniques in class.  No statistical background is required for this seminar. Math anxiety a plus!

Training Objective: The training uses lecture, handouts, examples and interactive class and group exercises to help participants learn how, when and why to sample for evaluation projects.  

Instructor: Lois W. Sayrs, Ph.D.

Outline:

Introduction and Background (2 hours)

  • Purpose of sampling in applied research
  • Typical uses of sampling on audits (brief examples)
  • Theory of Sampling for Auditing and Evaluation
  • Probability theory/sampling distributions
  • Populations and sampling frames
  • Determining sample size
    • Risk and sample precision
    • Confidence level
    • Variance
    • Steps in determining sample size

Types of Samples (4 hours)

  • When to generalize
    • Probability sampling
      • Attribute sampling
      • Variable sampling
      • Discovery sampling
      • Acceptance sampling
      • Work sampling
        • Multi-minute measurement
        • Extended cycle analysis
        • Fractioned professional estimates
    • Probability sample designs
      • Random
      • Systematic
      • Stratified
      • Cluster
      • Multi-stage
    • Helpful shortcuts when probability sampling is required
    • Adjusting the sampling strategy through weighting
       
  • When generalization is not required
    • Non-probability sampling
    • Non-probability sample designs
      • Risk-based sampling

      • Convenience sampling

      • Judgmental sampling

      • Snowball sampling

      • Quota sampling

    • Helpful hints when a non-probability sample is used

Application of Sampling to Applied Issues:  Case Studies (1 hour)
(I would like to send these case studies out ahead of time so the class has time to read them for a basic familiarity.)

  • Tale of three audits
    • Probability example
    • Non probability #1
    • Non probability #2

Troubleshooting (1 hour)

  • Current workload sampling issues and problems (optional time spent helping your auditors troubleshoot their current or proposed work; recommended time 1-2 hours depending upon need.
 

Copyright 2006 - LWS CONSULTING