Survey Methodology and Administration Flashcards
7 cards from real SSPO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Survey Methodology and Administration flashcards as text
In a personality survey used for police officer selection, what does a high score on an 'acquiescence bias' indicator suggest?
Answer: The candidate tended to agree with items regardless of content
Acquiescence bias (yea-saying) occurs when a respondent agrees with statements regardless of their actual content, distorting the validity of responses.
Which administration condition is MOST likely to compromise the reliability of a police psychological survey?
Answer: Allowing candidates to discuss items with peers during testing
Allowing candidates to discuss items during testing introduces social influence, causing responses to reflect group consensus rather than individual traits.
What is the primary purpose of 'test-retest reliability' in the context of a selection survey like the SSPO?
Answer: To confirm the survey produces consistent results over time
Test-retest reliability assesses whether a survey produces stable, consistent scores when administered to the same individuals on separate occasions.
A survey item reads: 'I always follow rules, even when no one is watching.' Which response distortion does this item most directly detect?
Answer: Social desirability bias
Items phrased as absolute virtues (e.g., 'always follow rules') are designed to catch socially desirable responding, where candidates present an unrealistically positive image.
In survey administration, 'standardization' refers to:
Answer: Ensuring all candidates receive identical instructions, conditions, and scoring procedures
Standardization ensures every candidate experiences the same testing conditions, instructions, and scoring so that results are comparable across individuals.
Which of the following BEST describes a 'forced-choice' survey format often used in police selection?
Answer: Candidates choose between two equally desirable or undesirable options
Forced-choice formats pair items of similar social desirability so candidates must choose based on actual preference rather than what seems most favorable.
When a survey instrument is described as having 'face validity,' this means:
Answer: The survey appears relevant and job-related to the candidates taking it
Face validity is the superficial appearance that a test measures what it claims to measure, which can affect candidate acceptance and motivation to engage honestly.