CCO Data Collection & Measurement Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sampling method ensures every member of a population has an equal chance of being selected?
- Convenience sampling
- Purposive sampling
- Simple random sampling (Correct answer)
- Quota sampling
Correct answer: Simple random sampling
Simple random sampling eliminates selection bias by giving each individual the same probability of inclusion.
Question 2: A Likert scale asking inmates to rate program satisfaction from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) produces what type of data?
- Ratio data
- Nominal data
- Ordinal data (Correct answer)
- Binary data
Correct answer: Ordinal data
Likert scales produce ordinal data because responses have a ranked order but the intervals between points are not necessarily equal.
Question 3: Which term refers to the consistency of a measurement instrument producing the same result under the same conditions?
- Validity
- Reliability (Correct answer)
- Sensitivity
- Specificity
Correct answer: Reliability
Reliability means a tool produces consistent results when applied repeatedly under identical conditions.
Question 4: A shift supervisor wants to determine the average number of inmate grievances filed per week. She should calculate the:
- Mode
- Median
- Mean (Correct answer)
- Range
Correct answer: Mean
The mean (arithmetic average) is calculated by summing all values and dividing by the count, suitable for tracking average weekly grievances.
Question 5: In data collection, 'inter-rater reliability' measures:
- Whether the data tool measures what it intends to measure
- The degree of agreement between two or more independent observers (Correct answer)
- The internal consistency of a survey instrument
- The accuracy of self-reported inmate information
Correct answer: The degree of agreement between two or more independent observers
Inter-rater reliability assesses how consistently different observers record the same phenomena.
Question 6: When conducting a head count, which approach best ensures accuracy?
- Counting from a list without visual confirmation
- Counting once quickly during peak activity
- Counting each individual physically present and reconciling with the roster (Correct answer)
- Relying on inmate self-reporting
Correct answer: Counting each individual physically present and reconciling with the roster
Physically counting each person present and comparing to the roster catches discrepancies that list-only or self-reported counts would miss.
Question 7: Which data collection tool is MOST appropriate for gathering standardized information from a large inmate population quickly?
- Unstructured interview
- Case file narrative review
- Standardized survey questionnaire (Correct answer)
- Anecdotal officer notes
Correct answer: Standardized survey questionnaire
Standardized questionnaires allow uniform data collection from many respondents efficiently and enable statistical comparison.
CCO Data Collection & Measurement Techniques 3
Which sampling method ensures every member of a population has an equal chance of being selected?