1. Scope

1.1 This practice presents rules for accepting or rejecting evidence based on a sample. Statistical evidence for this practice is in the form of an estimate of a proportion, an average, a total, or other numerical characteristic of a finite population or lot. It is an estimate of the result which would have been obtained by investigating the entire lot or population under the same rules and with the same care as was used for the sample.

1.2 One purpose of this practice is to describe straightforward sample selection and data calculation procedures so that courts, commissions, etc. will be able to verify whether such procedures have been applied. The methods may not give least uncertainty at least cost, they should however furnish a reasonable estimate with calculable uncertainty.

1.3 This practice is primarily intended for one-of-a-kind studies. Repetitive surveys allow estimates of sampling uncertainties to be pooled; the emphasis of this practice is on estimation of sampling uncertainty from the sample itself. The parameter of interest for this practice is effectively a constant. Thus, the principal inference is a simple point estimate to be used as if it were the unknown constant, rather than, for example, a forecast or prediction interval or distribution devised to match a random quantity of interest.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials

E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a Lot or Process

E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics

E1402 Guide for Sampling Design

E2586 Practice for Calculating and Using Basic Statistics

Keywords

audit subsample; confidence limits; estimate; equal complete coverage; finite population correction; hypergeometric distribution; interpenetrating subsamples; population parameter; probability sampling; replicate subsamples; sample size; sampling distribution; sampling frame; sampling unit; skewness; standard error; Statistical methods; Acceptance criteria/testing; Evidence; Probability sampling; Sampling; Sampling forensic analysis/applications ;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 03.120.30 (Application of statistical methods)

DOI: 10.1520/E0141-91R97

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.