Analytical Aptitude Competency

Question 1

Small group of invited persons (typically six to twelve) who actively participate in a structured discussion, led by a facilitator, for the purpose of eliciting their input.

Answer 1

FOCUS GROUP

Question 2

Statistical method used to determine whether a relationship exists between variables and the strength of the relationship.

Answer 2

REGRESSION ANALYSIS

Question 3

Value that occurs most frequently in a set of data.

Answer 3

MODE

Question 4

Technique in which participants each suggest ideas through a series of rounds and then discuss the items, eliminate redundancies and irrelevancies, and agree on the importance of the remaining items.

Answer 4

NOMINAL GROUP TECHNIQUE (NGT)

Question 5

Middle value in a range of values.

Answer 5

MEDIAN

Question 6

Statistical method that examines data from different points in time to determine if a variance is an isolated event or if it is part of a longer trend.

Answer 6

TREND ANALYSIS

Question 7

Statistical method used to test the possible effects of altering the details of a strategy to see if the likely outcome can be improved.

Answer 7

SCENARIO / WHAT-IF ANALYSIS

Question 8

Raw average of data that gives equal weight to all values, with no regard for other factors.

Answer 8

UNWEIGHTED MEAN

Question 9

Extent to which a measurement instrument measures what it is intended to measure.

Answer 9

VALIDITY

Question 10

Comparing the sizes of two variables to produce an index or percentage; commonly used to analyze financial statements.

Answer 10

RATIO ANALYSIS

Question 11

Data-sorting technique in which group members add related ideas and indicate logical connections, eventually grouping similar ideas.

Answer 11

MIND MAPPING

Question 12

Extent to which a measurement instrument provides consistent results.

Answer 12

RELIABILITY

Question 13

Objective measurements that can be verified and used in statistical analysis.

Answer 13

QUANTITATIVE DATA

Question 14

Technique that progressively collects information from a group of anonymous respondents.

Answer 14

DELPHI TECHNIQUE

Question 15

Subjective evaluation of actions, feelings, or behaviors.

Answer 15

QUALITATIVE DATA

Question 16

Distance of any data point from the center of a distribution when data is distributed in a “normal” or expected pattern.

Answer 16

STANDARD DEVIATION

Question 17

Data-sorting technique in which a group categorizes and subcategorizes data until relationships are clearly drawn.

Answer 17

AFFINITY DIAGRAMING

Question 18

Average score or value.

Answer 18

MEAN

Question 19

Statistical method for identifying the degree of difference between planned and actual performance or outcomes.

Answer 19

VARIANCE ANALYSIS

Question 20

Average of data that adds factors to reflect the importance of different values.

Answer 20

WEIGHTED MEAN

Question 21

Type of analysis that starts with a result and then works backward to identify fundamental cause.

Answer 21

ROOT-CAUSE ANALYSIS