CHAPTER 16: MEASURING PERFORMANCE: ASSESSMENT AND
EVALUATION
TRUE/FALSE
1. Accreditation is highly incompatible with community policing efforts.
a. True
b. False
2. Appraisal and evaluation are synonymous.
a. True
b. False
3. A high ratio of police officers to citizens demonstrates high-quality police services.
a. True
b. False
4. All experts agree that formal evaluation is better than informal evaluation.
a. True
b. False
5. Most citizens want to live in safe, orderly neighborhoods.
a. True
b. False
6. Performance appraisals may be used to document information to protect against lawsuits.
a. True
b. False
7. Community surveys are often a no-win situation because of their cost and lack of citizen participation.
a. True
b. False
8. Evaluation should have consequences.
a. True
b. False
9. Employee performance interviews need not be private.
a. True
b. False
10. Partnerships between police leaders and academic researchers are critical to discovering and
implementing best policing practices.
a. True
b. False
11. Managers who provide the most immediate direction of subordinates should do the evaluation.
a. True
b. False
12. Low crime rates do not necessarily mean a police agency is efficient and effective.
a. True
b. False
13. The basic purpose of evaluation is to determine how well an agency is accomplishing its mission and
how to make improvements.
a. True
b. False
14. Self-evaluation is becoming more popular.
a. True
b. False
15. Responding quickly to calls for service indicates that a police agency is efficient.
a. True
b. False
16. Accreditation by CALEA is voluntary.
a. True
b. False
17. The tone throughout a performance appraisal interview should be positive.
a. True
b. False
18. A purpose of evaluation is to motivate employees.
a. True
b. False
19. The purpose of a fitness-for-duty evaluation is to notify the police executive and the department of
information that touches on an officer’s physical fitness.
a. True
b. False
20. Adding up together individual performance ratings is the best way to evaluate a team project.
a. True
b. False
21. Accreditation is the easiest and most cost-effective way of evaluating employees.
a. True
b. False
MULTIPLE CHOICE
22. Which of the following statements about evaluation is true?
a.
living itself is a constant evaluation process
b.
evaluation takes place among friends
c.
evaluation can be formal or informal
d.
all of these
23. Formal evaluation _________.
a.
is taking care of a situation as it occurs
b.
is a form of performance appraisal
c.
is the same as self-appraisal
d.
eliminates the “halo effect”
24. Where does responsibility lie with regard to inspection of appearance and equipment?
a.
each officer
b.
shift sergeants
c.
commanders
d.
chiefs of police
25. Informal evaluations most frequently _________.
a.
involve written reports
b.
are based on a report
c.
do not require extensive records
d.
are not based on opinion
26. In most cases the performance evaluation of a patrol officer is completed by _________.
a.
the lieutenant
b.
the chief of police
c.
the sergeant
d.
the human resources department
27. Performance appraisals _________.
a.
may determine promotions
b.
determine how employees are performing police tasks
c.
determine how performance may be improved
d.
all of these
28. A purpose of evaluation is to _________.
a.
set standards for task performance
b.
promote common understanding
c.
set future objectives
d.
all of these
29. One important responsibility of a supervisor or commander is to __________.
a.
enforce discipline
b.
maintain the standards that are set for the subordinates and department
c.
“be a friend” to subordinates
d.
be available 24/7
30. A performance appraisal interview should __________.
a.
help employees do their jobs better
b.
focus on an employee’s weaknesses
c.
avoid criticism
d.
all of these
31. Fitness-for-duty evaluations (FFDE) usually include physical and __________.
a.
psychosocial fitness
b.
educational goals
c.
psychological fitness
d.
promotional data
32. A benefit of using a quarterly evaluation report is __________.
a.
it adequately provides each employee with an assessment of their performance
b.
it effectively forces supervisors to record more frequently the progress and problems of
those under their span of control
c.
there are no evaluation surprises for the employee
d.
all are benefits of using a quarterly evaluation report
33. When agencies do not address the fitness requirements and needs of officers, they may be subject to
litigation on the basis of all but which of the following?
a.
negligent retention
b.
negligent hiring
c.
negligent supervision
d.
negligent treatment
34. A pre-evaluation is performed by the __________.
a.
chief of police
b.
employee being evaluated
c.
lieutenant
d.
captain
35. The main purpose of performance evaluation is __________.
a.
to improve employee performance
b.
to enhance managers’ authority
c.
to reduce departmental liability
d.
to streamline the budgeting process
36. Any rating of “not satisfactory” or “exceeds standards” on a performance evaluation should
__________.
a.
have very specific explanatory comments and examples
b.
never be used as no employee exceeds standards
c.
only be used with approval of the reviewer’s supervisor
d.
only be used when previous documentation is available
37. Problems with performance ratings include __________.
a.
giving a greater weight to more recent impressions
b.
rating on personality rather than on task behavior
c.
both giving a greater weight to more recent impressions and rating on personality rather
than on task behavior.
d.
neither giving a greater weight to more recent impressions nor rating on personality rather
than on task behavior
38. Behaviorally anchored rating scales (BARS) require __________.
a.
an employee to rate himself or herself
b.
statistical analyses of group self-perceptions
c.
the rating of individual employees on a scale
d.
the rating of group traits on a scale of 1 to 5
39. Formal methods of evaluation include __________.
a.
merit ratings
b.
employee appraisal
c.
performance evaluations
d.
all of these
40. If an employee is transferred during a rating period, __________.
a.
only the first supervisor should do the rating
b.
only the second supervisor should do the rating
c.
both supervisors should do a rating
d.
the rating period should be adjusted to start over on the transfer date
41. Which is not a positive outcome of performance evaluations according to your text?
a.
employees understanding their jobs
b.
ensuring that employees have the necessary training
c.
critical feedback for both supervisors and subordinates
d.
all are positive outcomes
42. Of the following, which is most important during a performance interview?
a.
the manager’s counseling technique
b.
the manager’s attitude and interest regarding the employee
c.
the manager’s ability to put himself or herself in the role of judge
d.
all are equally important
43. To meet legal requirements, performance appraisal criteria must be __________.
a.
job related
b.
written
c.
voted on by an impartial evaluation committee
d.
all of these
44. Which of the following is not an element of the evaluation cycle?
a.
training
b.
performance
c.
assignment
d.
evaluation
45. The National Institute of Justice’s “Research Partnerships in Policing” pairs __________.
a.
two small police departments
b.
a police department of any size with a state agency
c.
a police department of any size with a federal agency
d.
a police department with a college or university
46. The lesson(s) in the story of the four monkeys and the cold shower is/are that __________.
a.
telling officers “That’s the way it’s always been done” is vital to maintaining the
established police culture
b.
precedents enacted into policy can far outlive the situational context that created them
c.
it is important to always follow the lead of your predecessors
d.
all of these
47. Performance evaluations benefit __________.
a.
individual officers
b.
department supervisors
c.
the organization as a whole
d.
all of these
48. How effective are we, what, if anything, should we change, and what challenges will we face in the
future, are questions asked __________.
a.
on an external survey
b.
on an internal survey
c.
both on an external survey and on an internal survey
d.
neither on an external survey nor on an internal survey
49. The purpose of CALEA is __________.
a.
to ensure that officers received adequate compensation for line–of-duty injuries
b.
to encourage the unionization of police organizations
c.
to set national standards against which agencies can evaluate themselves
d.
to require smaller law enforcement agencies to increase their professionalism
50. Employees who rate below the acceptable range following evaluation might be __________.
a.
demoted
b.
given a salary reduction
c.
terminated
d.
any of these
COMPLETION
51. By-the-numbers evaluation makes evaluation more objective by using a(n) __________ scale for each
dimension assessed.
52. __________ is a procedure that allows those being evaluated to have input by completing a form
outlining their accomplishments.
53. BARS stands for __________.
54. CALEA stands for __________.
55. The tendency for a person who performs above average in one area to be rated as above average in all
areas, or vice versa, is known as the __________.
56. __________ make it easier for employees to meet requirements and for managers to determine
whether they have been met.
57. Many aspects of training require evaluation. One in particular that has received significant attention is
__________ because, as opposed to many other forms of evaluation, it is continuous during the period
it occurs.
58. __________ must be perceived as a means to determine strengths and weaknesses of individuals as
well as programs within an agency and how well each is contributing to total agency efforts.
59. By focusing on __________, we are making statistically educated guesses from a sample of data.
60. Appraisals that are well grounded and sound in which the factors rated are job related are considered
__________.
MATCHING
Match each statement to the item listed below
a.
accreditation
d.
halo effect
b.
descriptive statistics
e.
horn effect
c.
evaluate
f.
inferential statistics
61. when a highly negative attribute in one area causes other attributes to be rated negatively as well
62. focus on making statistically educated guesses from a sample of data
63. to determine the worth of, to find the amount or value of or to appraise
64. focus on making statistically educated guesses from a sample of data
65. when a highly positive attribute in one area causes all other characteristics to be rated positively
66. a process by which an institution or agency demonstrates that it meets set standards
ESSAY
67. List and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of formal evaluations.
68. List and discuss the various consequences of evaluation.
69. What problems may occur in evaluations, and how might such problems be avoided?
70. Discuss the pros and cons of accreditation.
71. Describe three typical forms of inspections and typical performance standards. Discuss their value for
law enforcement agencies.