Data Analysis & Reporting Flashcards
7 cards from real CED practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Data Analysis & Reporting flashcards as text
A program director wants to assess whether an intervention caused improved outcomes. Which study design provides the strongest causal evidence?
Answer: Randomized controlled trial
A randomized controlled trial, with random assignment to treatment and control groups, provides the strongest evidence of causation.
In a trend analysis, data points consistently rise for 18 months then sharply drop. What should an executive director investigate first?
Answer: Identify whether an external event or policy change coincides with the drop
A sharp break in trend often signals an external event, policy shift, or data quality issue that requires investigation before drawing conclusions.
Which metric is most appropriate for evaluating the efficiency of a nonprofit's use of donated funds?
Answer: Program expense ratio
The program expense ratio measures the percentage of expenses directed to programs versus overhead, indicating funding efficiency.
An organization collects data via voluntary surveys. Which limitation must an executive director consider when interpreting results?
Answer: Voluntary response bias may skew results toward those with strong opinions
Voluntary surveys are susceptible to response bias because those with stronger feelings are more likely to participate, skewing the sample.
A CED uses a regression model to forecast next year's grant revenue. Which output most directly measures how well the model fits historical data?
Answer: R-squared (R²)
R-squared indicates the proportion of variance in the dependent variable explained by the model, measuring goodness of fit.
Which approach best ensures data integrity when multiple staff members enter program data into a shared system?
Answer: Implement validation rules, dropdown menus, and required fields
Validation rules and standardized input options reduce entry errors and ensure consistent, reliable data across multiple users.
A year-over-year comparison shows program participation dropped 15%. Which additional data point is essential before concluding performance declined?
Answer: Whether eligibility criteria or the target population changed
Changes in eligibility rules or the target population can explain participation drops without indicating actual performance decline.