Data Collection & Measurement Techniques Flashcards

Which sampling method ensures every member of a population has an equal chance of being selected?

Answer: Simple random sampling

Simple random sampling eliminates selection bias by giving each individual the same probability of inclusion.

A Likert scale asking inmates to rate program satisfaction from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) produces what type of data?

Answer: Ordinal data

Likert scales produce ordinal data because responses have a ranked order but the intervals between points are not necessarily equal.

Which term refers to the consistency of a measurement instrument producing the same result under the same conditions?

Answer: Reliability

Reliability means a tool produces consistent results when applied repeatedly under identical conditions.

A shift supervisor wants to determine the average number of inmate grievances filed per week. She should calculate the:

Answer: Mean

The mean (arithmetic average) is calculated by summing all values and dividing by the count, suitable for tracking average weekly grievances.

In data collection, 'inter-rater reliability' measures:

Answer: The degree of agreement between two or more independent observers

Inter-rater reliability assesses how consistently different observers record the same phenomena.

When conducting a head count, which approach best ensures accuracy?

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.

Which data collection tool is MOST appropriate for gathering standardized information from a large inmate population quickly?

Answer: Standardized survey questionnaire

Standardized questionnaires allow uniform data collection from many respondents efficiently and enable statistical comparison.