Deck 12: Evaluating Police Performance

Question 1

According to the text, in performance measurement, the best way to deal with the fact that police organizations have multiple goals and that the public does not always agree on which goals are most important is:

A) to use multiple measures
B) to choose the measure with the most public support
C) to use a qualitative rather than quantitative approach
D) to use a different measure each year

Answer 1

A

Question 2

According to the text, objective measures are always preferable to subjective measures because:

A) they are numerical
B) they are easier to combine and analyze
C) they eliminate opinions and emotions
D) none of the above, they are not always preferable

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following is not one of the suggestions for reducing supervisor and subordinate dissatisfaction with performance appraisals?

A) characterizing the process as an analysis rather than an evaluation
B) careful training for supervisors
C) engaging the subordinate in the performance analysis process
D) conducting appraisals no more than once per year

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Ratings and rating scales are commonly used in police performance appraisal. The recommended method for making these as objective as possible is:

A) to have supervisors rate one another's subordinates
B) to apply behavioral anchors to the rating scales
C) to have supervisors complete the ratings only once per year
D) to have supervisors refer to past-year ratings when doing their appraisals of subordinates

Question 5

The process of systematic collection of information to determine whether programs and strategies are being implemented as intended is called:

A) evaluation
B) performance appraisal
C) monitoring
D) appreciative inquiry

Question 6

According to the text, police organizations are expected to engage in evidence-based practices solely because they are heavily involved in criminal investigation.

Question 7

According to the text, police departments should only use objective indicators of performance because they are easier to measure.

Question 8

According to the text, the best way to overcome conflict and dissatisfaction with employee performance appraisals is to focus them on personality.

Question 9

Absolute methods of performance appraisal require comparisons between and among employees.

Question 10

The most difficult task in evaluating a strategy or program is determining whether the strategy or program caused the outcome.

Question 11

There is an established set of measures used by all police departments to evaluate police performance.

Question 12

The ________ of data is the extent to which they accurately represent actual performance.

A) Validity
B) Reliability
C) Sustainability
D) Applicability

Question 13

One of the problems with using rating scales to evaluate employees is that supervisors tend to let their rating of an employee on one measure affect that employee's measure on other measures. This is known as:

A) Central tendency
B) Supervisor leniency
C) Halo effect
D) Career effect

Question 14

When evaluating a police organization, it is recommended that the assessment include objective and subjective measures, quantitative and qualitative considerations, and:

A) A review of individual employee evaluations
B) Attention to inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes
C) A comprehensive analysis of relevant crime statistics
D) Specific focus on budgetary adherence

Question 15

Inside evaluation is recommended whenever a neutral, unbiased assessment is particularly necessary