Deck 1: Why Statistics for Public Managers and Policy Analysts

Question 1

Data are used for describing and analyzing problems.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Data are used for describing policies and programs.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Data are used for monitoring fraud and preventing progress.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Data are used to improve program operations.

Question 5

Data are used for evaluating outcomes.

Question 6

Accreditation bodies such as the Network of Schools in Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration, recognizes the role of quantitative skills in ensuring students required competencies.

Question 7

The textbook discusses three competencies for data analysis.

Question 8

Managers do not need to know how to collect their own data.

Question 9

Managers and analysts will have to be familiar with data sources in their lines of business.

Question 10

Managers and analysts need to be able to analyze data and present the findings of their analysis.

Question 11

Technical skills are sufficient and essential to ensuring soundness of analysis.

Question 12

Statistics is the careful, systematic process of inquiry that leads to the discovery or interpretation of facts, behaviors, and theories.

Question 13

The textbook discusses four stages of proficiency.

Question 14

People at the "know nothing" stage of proficiency need to find useful examples of analysis that can help them.

Question 15

Sophisticated experts have found the right balance between the development of policies and programs and the use of objective data and analysis to further decision-making.

Question 16

There are three areas of ethical concern: (1) the integrity of purpose, (2) the integrity of the process of analysis and communication, and (3) the integrity of dealing with human subjects.

Question 17

Dual purposes means that analysts have hidden facts or changed data.

Question 18

Each year cases of scientific misconduct and fraud make headlines.

Question 19

Key ethical principles in research involving people are that their participation should be voluntary and based on informed consent.

Question 20

Institutional Review Boards oversee and regulate the quality of research.