Course Information
Statistical Sampling for Large Audits
Course Description
Dr. Dwight Steward and his colleagues at EmployStats have over 25 years of experience in utilizing statistical sampling in employment audits and litigation. In this session, the EmployStats team will provide a crash course to participants in the uses of statistical sampling, how statistical samples are conducted, and when statistical samples are legally and scientifically valid in performing audits. The EmployStats team will review case studies in the practical uses of statistical sampling in formal settings.
The course will include how to calculate the size of statistically valid samples, how to parse a random sample from a dataset, and how to statistically validate a random samples.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
Be able to explain different statistical concepts, perform calculations to calculate sample size, and be able to draw a random sample of observations.
Course Outline:
· Overview the concept of statistical sampling, and when it is appropriate to use statistical samples in audits. Review common legal and scientific standards for a valid, robust statistical sample.
· Outline Common Definitions: Population, Sample Size, Margin of Error, Confidence Intervals, Simple Random Sample, and Stratified Random Sample
· Demonstrate how to randomly select observations for both simple and stratified random samples, with examples from common data analysis programs
· Define common statistical problems, such sample bias, and review strategies to mitigate and reduce biases in statistical samples
· Detail how statistical samples can be extrapolated to an entire population
· Provide useful case studies utilizing statistical sampling for litigation and audit purposes.
Instructors
Carl McClain is an Economic Researcher at EmployStats with a Master’s degree in economics from the University of Texas. He has worked at Employstats for almost two years and has a background in data analytics and statistics.
Matt Rigling is a Wage and Hour Analyst at EmployStats with a Master’s degree in economics from the University of Texas. He has worked at Employstats for over five years and has extensive experience performing statistical analyses and conducting sampling for wage and hour cases. Matt also has a background in conducting internal audits of time and payroll data for corporate clients.
Dwight Steward, Ph.D. is the principal and owner of EmployStats, an economic consulting firm based in Austin, Texas. Dr. Steward has over twenty years of experience as an expert witness in cases involving employment discrimination, wage and hour, and litigation concerning economics and statistics. Dr. Steward writes regularly on statistical sampling and survey evidence in regards to employment issues, and frequently speaks to economic and legal professional groups such as the AEA and NELA. Dr. Steward has taught courses in statistics and labor economics for the Department of Economics and for the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
Additional Information
TAC Rule 523.142(g) requires the CPE Sponsor to monitor individual attendance and assign the correct number of CPE credits. Participants will be asked to document their time of arrival and departure in compliance with this Rule. Additionally, attendance will be monitored throughout the day and CPE certificates will reflect actual attendance of each participant.
If you are making travel plans to come to Austin, we recommend making "refundable" air and hotel reservations or waiting until 14 days before the class to actually book your reservations. Courses are occasionally canceled or rescheduled due to low enrollment. We determine whether a course has enough participants 16 days prior to the course date. If we cancel or reschedule, we will email the participant and his or her billing contact no later than 14 days before the original class date.
The course coordinator will contact you with parking information. Handicapped parking is free at the meters around the downtown area.
Vending machines with Coca-Cola products and various snack items are available. There is also a refrigerator and microwave in our coffee bar area. Feel free to bring in your own drinks and food if you prefer.
You might want to bring a light sweater or jacket, as room temperatures vary.
To see answers to our Frequently Asked Questions, visit http://www.sao.texas.gov/training/faq.html.