PCB Data Analysis & Reporting Flashcards

In PCB practice, which data type best measures whether a program achieved its intended outcomes?

Answer: Outcome data (changes in client knowledge, behavior, or status)

Outcome data directly measure the changes the program aimed to produce in clients or communities, distinguishing it from service volume measures.

A pre-test/post-test design in PCB evaluation is primarily used to:

Answer: Measure change in participants between the start and end of an intervention

Pre-test/post-test designs measure within-group change over time by comparing the same participants before and after the intervention.

In PCB data reporting, a denominator population is important because it:

Answer: Provides the reference group needed to calculate rates and proportions meaningfully

Rates and proportions require a defined denominator (eligible population) to interpret numerator counts in context.

Which measure of central tendency is most appropriate when a PCB dataset contains significant outliers?

Answer: Median

The median is resistant to outliers because it reflects the middle value rather than being pulled by extreme scores.

In PCB program reporting, disaggregating data by race and ethnicity is important in order to:

Answer: Identify disparities in service access, quality, or outcomes across demographic groups

Disaggregated data reveal inequities hidden in aggregate statistics, enabling targeted strategies to address disparate outcomes.

A PCB professional reviewing program data notices a statistically significant improvement in outcomes but a very small effect size. This means:

Answer: The change was real but may be too small to be practically meaningful

Statistical significance indicates the finding is unlikely due to chance, but effect size determines whether the magnitude of change is meaningful in practice.