CPT Data Analysis & Reporting 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A performance technologist notices that sales performance data shows high variance across regions. Which statistical measure best describes the spread of data around the mean?
- Median
- Standard deviation (Correct answer)
- Mode
- Correlation coefficient
Correct answer: Standard deviation
Standard deviation quantifies how much individual data points deviate from the mean, making it the best measure of spread.
Question 2: When analyzing training effectiveness data, a CPT finds a skewed distribution. Which measure of central tendency is MOST appropriate to report?
- Mean
- Variance
- Median (Correct answer)
- Range
Correct answer: Median
The median is preferred over the mean for skewed distributions because it is not distorted by extreme outliers.
Question 3: A dashboard shows a KPI trending upward for three consecutive quarters, but the improvement is statistically non-significant. What should the CPT conclude?
- The intervention is effective and should be scaled
- The upward trend may be due to random variation (Correct answer)
- The KPI measure is invalid and should be replaced
- The sample size is too large to detect true change
Correct answer: The upward trend may be due to random variation
Without statistical significance, an observed trend could reflect random variation rather than a true performance change.
Question 4: Which type of chart is MOST effective for showing how a whole is divided into proportional parts for an executive audience?
- Scatter plot
- Histogram
- Pie chart (Correct answer)
- Box-and-whisker plot
Correct answer: Pie chart
Pie charts display part-to-whole relationships visually, making them suitable for showing proportional composition to executives.
Question 5: A CPT is designing a report to compare pre- and post-training performance for 50 employees. Which statistical test is MOST appropriate?
- Chi-square test
- Paired t-test (Correct answer)
- ANOVA
- Pearson correlation
Correct answer: Paired t-test
A paired t-test compares means from the same group under two conditions (before and after), controlling for individual differences.
Question 6: In a performance report, a CPT includes a confidence interval of [72%, 88%] for a post-training competency score. What does this interval communicate?
- The score will fall between 72% and 88% in 95% of future samples (Correct answer)
- All employees scored between 72% and 88%
- The training achieved a 72% to 88% ROI
- The sample had between 72% and 88% completion rate
Correct answer: The score will fall between 72% and 88% in 95% of future samples
A 95% confidence interval means that in repeated sampling, 95% of such intervals would contain the true population parameter.
Question 7: A performance analyst wants to identify which of five training variables most strongly predicts job performance. Which analysis technique is MOST appropriate?
- Frequency distribution
- Multiple regression (Correct answer)
- Descriptive statistics
- Run chart
Correct answer: Multiple regression
Multiple regression identifies the relative contribution of multiple independent variables in predicting a single dependent variable.
CPT Data Analysis & Reporting 2
A performance technologist notices that sales performance data shows high variance across regions.
Which statistical measure best describes the spread of data around the mean?