Evaluating the Effectiveness of Audit Procedures.

Abstract The recent Statement on Auditing Standards No. 31, "Evidential Matter," stresses the importance of selecting effective and efficient audit procedures. However, a systematic, operational process for evaluating evidence alternatives is not offered in the auditing literature. In response, this paper introduces a research approach for assessing evidential competency based upon concepts of measurement and scientific research. The paper begins with an overview of the literature on evidence evaluation. A research approach to this problem is then presented as a framework for empirical testing. An illustration of the approach is also provided. Finally, applications of the proposed research approach are discussed.