Question 1

In the context of police selection,what is meant by KSA?

Accepted Answer

KSA stands for Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In the context of police selection, KSA refers to the specific sets of characteristics or competencies that are required to perform the job of a police officer effectively. It includes attributes like communication skills, problem-solving ability, physical fitness, decision-making ability, etc. These competencies are used to identify potential candidates who possess the necessary qualities to be successful as a police officer.

Question 2

Which of the following individuals would be best suited to become a police officer based on the essential KSAs identified in your text?

Accepted Answer

Sarah's public relations background, leadership skills, responsibility, and trustworthiness would be valuable KSAs for a police officer. Additionally, her volunteer work with children's fitness programs demonstrates a commitment to public service.

Question 3

A common personality test used in police selection is the IPI.What does IPI stand for?

Accepted Answer

The IPI stands for Inwald Personality Inventory, so option B is the correct answer. Option A refers to a different personality test, while options C and D are made up terms. Option E is not an answer choice.

Question 4

The validity coefficient calculated for a selection instrument (when it is used to predict job performance)is +0.99.This means that:

Accepted Answer

A validity coefficient of +0.99 indicates a very strong positive relationship between performance on the selection instrument and job performance ratings, meaning as one increases, so does the other. This supports both A and D.

Question 5

Julia has applied to become a police officer with the Hamilton Police Service.Which of the following selection procedures will NOT be used throughout her application process?

Accepted Answer

Polygraph testing is not commonly used in police officer selection processes due to its questionable reliability and accuracy. Many jurisdictions also prohibit the use of polygraph testing in employment decisions.

Question 6

As a psychologist involved in police selection,which measure(s)would you be most confident in administering to an applicant if your goal was to accurately predict the potential for a candidate to display problematic police behaviour?

Accepted Answer

The answer of As a psychologist involved in police selection,which...

Question 7

As a psychologist involved in police selection,which measure(s)would you be most confident in administering to an applicant if your goal was to accurately predict their future job performance?

Accepted Answer

The answer of As a psychologist involved in police selection,which...

Question 8

You are applying to be a police officer with the RCMP.Which of the following tests would you expect to be administered in order to measure your cognitive abilities?

Accepted Answer

The RPAT (RCMP Police Aptitude Test) is specifically designed to measure the cognitive abilities of individuals applying to become police officers with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), making it the correct choice for this context.

Question 9

Cognitive ability tests used during police selection tend to be better at predicting _____________ relative to ______________.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive ability tests are more effective in predicting how well candidates will perform in the police academy, which is a more controlled and academic environment, compared to predicting their performance in the complex, unpredictable real-world situations they will face on the job.

Question 10

Which of the following is considered to be a serious problem with validation research in the area of police selection?

Accepted Answer

There is a lack of agreement on what constitutes good police performance and how it can be measured. This poses a serious problem for validation research in police selection as it becomes challenging to establish the predictive validity of various selection procedures.

Question 11

Which of the following has been identified as a key problem with the police selection interview?

Accepted Answer

Studies have found that police interviewers often disagree on the ratings that should be assigned to various attributes of the interviewee, reducing the reliability of the interview. Although A and B may be issues with the interview, they are not the key problem identified in research. D is not an issue but rather indicates that the interview is effective. Therefore, C is the best choice.

Question 12

What is the most common police selection instrument used in assessment centres?

Accepted Answer

Situational tests, also known as assessment exercises or in-basket exercises, are the most commonly used instrument in police selection because they simulate real-world situations that police officers frequently encounter. These tests assess a candidate's ability to think critically, make sound judgments and decisions, and perform effectively under pressure. They are considered to be highly reliable and valid predictors of job performance. Personality tests and cognitive ability tests are also commonly used, but situational tests are the most widely used among police agencies. Selection interviews are also important but may not be used as extensively as situational tests. Polygraph tests, while sometimes used in certain jurisdictions, are not widely used in police selection due to their controversial nature and lack of scientific validity.

Question 13

Which of the following police selection procedures is used by all Canadian police agencies when selecting officers?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following police selection procedures...

Question 14

When conducting job analysis concerning police selection,an organizational psychologist may find this challenging because

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed can pose challenges during job analysis for police selection. Different jobs within policing may require different knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), making it difficult to identify a comprehensive set of KSAs that apply to all positions. The KSAs that are important for a police officer may change over time with changes in technology, laws, and community needs. Individual opinions about which KSAs are essential may differ, adding subjectivity to the analysis. Furthermore, there is a range of techniques available for identifying relevant KSAs, and choosing the most appropriate approach can also be challenging.

Question 15

Lewis Terman's attempt to assist with police selection in the early 1900s involved the assessment of:

Accepted Answer

Lewis Terman's attempt to assist with police selection in the early 1900s involved the assessment of intelligence. He developed the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, which was used for selecting police officers based on their cognitive abilities.

Question 16

In the context of police selection,the term validation refers to:

Accepted Answer

Validation in the context of police selection refers to the process of ensuring that the results of a selection instrument (such as a test or interview) are related to some measure of police performance. This is done by analyzing the performance of current officers and comparing it to their scores on the selection instrument, in order to determine the extent to which the instrument predicts success on the job. The goal of validation is to ensure that the selection process is fair, reliable, and valid, and that those who are selected are likely to be successful as police officers.

Question 17

New strategies for recruiting police officers,such as those used by the Vancouver Police Department,involve

Accepted Answer

The Vancouver Police Department has adopted modern recruitment strategies, including the use of social media platforms like blogs and Twitter, to attract potential candidates.

Question 18

Marcus has applied to become an RCMP officer.What are the two primary aptitude battery assessments that he must pass in order to progress in the selection process?

Accepted Answer

According to the RCMP website, the two primary aptitude battery assessments that candidates must pass are the police aptitude test and the six factor personality questionnaire.

Question 19

According to Cochrane,Tett,and Vandecreek (2003),which of the following police selection procedures is most commonly used in the United States?

Accepted Answer

According to Cochrane, Tett, and Vandecreek (2003), background checks are the most commonly used police selection procedure in the United States. This is because they are considered highly effective in identifying potential red flags such as criminal history, drug use, and integrity issues. While physical agility tests, drug testing, selection interviews, and polygraph tests may also be used in some agencies, background checks are generally considered the cornerstone of police selection procedures.

Question 20

Which psychometric property is most important in the context of police selection?

Accepted Answer

In the context of police selection, predictive validity is the most important psychometric property. This is because it measures the extent to which a selection test can predict job performance. Police officers need to perform their duties effectively and have a variety of important job skills including decision making, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork. A test with high predictive validity ensures that those who score well on the test are likely to exhibit these skills on the job.

Quiz 2: A: Police Psychology