PHR Certification questions with
correct answers
Accounts Payable - CORRECT ANSWER-Money an organization owes its vendors and suppliers.
Accounts Receivable - CORRECT ANSWER-Money an organization's customers owe the organization.
Action Plans - CORRECT ANSWER-Detailed steps a unit, department, or team will take in order to achieve short-term objectives.
ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) - CORRECT ANSWER-Amendments to Americans with Disabilities Act covering the definition of individuals regarded as having a
disability, mitigating measures, and other rules of construction to guide the analysis of what constitutes a disability.
ADDIE model - CORRECT ANSWER-Five-step instructional design process that governs the development of human resource development programs.
Adverse impact - CORRECT ANSWER-Occurs when the selection rate for an employment decision works to the disadvantage of a protected class; also known as
disparate impact.
Affirmative action (AA) - CORRECT ANSWER-Practice in which employers make efforts to increase the presence of women, miniorities, covered veterans, and disabled
individuals in the workplace and take positive steps to correct their underutilization.
Affirmative action plans (AAPs) - CORRECT ANSWER-Written plans that outline an organization's programs, policies, and procedures for proactively ensuring equal
opportunity in all aspects of employment, such as recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, and compensating.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) - CORRECT ANSWER-Act that prohibits discrimination in employment for persons age 40 and over.
Albemarle Paper v. Moody - CORRECT ANSWER-1975 court ruling that items used to validate employment requirements must be job related.
Alternative staffing - CORRECT ANSWER-Use of alternative recruiting sources and workers who are not regular employees; also know as flexible staffing.
Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER-Modification or the Constitution or a law; modification may be either formal (written) or informal (unwritten).
Amerians with Disabilities Act (ADA) - CORRECT ANSWER-Act that prohibits discrimination against a qualified individual with a disability because of his/her disability.
Analysis - CORRECT ANSWER-Level of learning characterized by understnading information to the level of being able to break it down and explain how it f its together.
Andragogy - CORRECT ANSWER-Study of how adults learn.
Application - CORRECT ANSWER-Level of learning characterized by ability to use learned information in a new situation.
Apprenticeship - CORRECT ANSWER-Relates to technical skills training; often a partnership between employers and unions.
Aptitude - CORRECT ANSWER-Ability to learn information or acquire a skill.
Aptitude tests - CORRECT ANSWER-Tests that measure the general ability or capacity to learn or acquire a new skill.
Assessment centers - CORRECT ANSWER-Method of evaluating candidates using content-valid work samples of a job; typically for managerial positions.
Assets - CORRECT ANSWER-Financial, physical, and sometiems intangible properties an organization owns.
Asynchronous learning - CORRECT ANSWER-Type of e-learning in which participants access information at different times and in different places.
Auditory learners - CORRECT ANSWER-People who learn best by relying on their sense of hearing.
Availability analysis - CORRECT ANSWER-Analysis in which organization considers internal and external availability in determining theoretical availability of minorities
and women for established job groups.
Balance Sheet - CORRECT ANSWER-Statement of a firm's financial position at a particular time.
Balanced scorecard - CORRECT ANSWER-Measurement approach that provides an overall picture of an organization's performance as measured against goals in
finance, customers, internal business processes, and learning and growth.
Behavioral interview - CORRECT ANSWER-Type of interview that focuses on how applicant previously handled real situations.
Bill - CORRECT ANSWER-Proposal presented to a legislative body for possible enactment as a law.
Bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) - CORRECT ANSWER-Situation in which religion, sex, or national orgin is reasonably necessary to carry out a particular job
function in the normal operations of an organization.
Break-even analysis - CORRECT ANSWER-Analysis that shows point in time at which total revenue associated with a program is equal to the total cost of the program.
Business Case - CORRECT ANSWER-Description of an organizational challenge and possible alternative solutions, arguing for specific solution.
Capacity - CORRECT ANSWER-To an operations department, the ability to yield output.
Career planning - CORRECT ANSWER-Actions and activities that individuals perform in order to give direction to their work life.
Cash flow statement - CORRECT ANSWER-Record of how much cash is flowing into and out of an organization, including its sources or destinations.
Cause-and-effect diagram - CORRECT ANSWER-Diagram that maps out a list of factors that are thought to affect a problem or a desired outcome.
, Central tendency error - CORRECT ANSWER-Error that occurs when an appraiser rates all employees within a narrow range, regardless of differences in actual
performance.
Centralization - CORRECT ANSWER-Degree to which decision-making authority is restricted to higher levels of management in an organization.
Check sheets - CORRECT ANSWER-Simple visual tools used to collect and analyze data.
City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson Company - CORRECT ANSWER-1989 Court ruling that the numerical quota system of Richmond, VA was unconstitutional because the
city had not laid the proper groundwork and had not adequately identified or documented discrimination.
Civil Rights Act of 1991 - CORRECT ANSWER-Act that expands the possible damage awards available to victims of intentional discrimination to include compensatory
and punitive damages; gives plaintiffs in cases of alleged discrimination the right to a jury trial.
Civil Rights of 1964 - CORRECT ANSWER-First comprehensive US law making it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national orgin.
Closed questions - CORRECT ANSWER-Questions that can usually be answered with yes or no.
Co-employment - CORRECT ANSWER-Situation in which an organization shares responsibility and liability for their alternative workers with an alternative staffing
supplier; also known as joint employment.
Code of ethics - CORRECT ANSWER-Principles of conduct within an organization that guide decision making and behavior.
Cognitive ability tests - CORRECT ANSWER-Tests that assess skills the candidate has already learned.
Competencies - CORRECT ANSWER-Set of behaviors encompassing skills, knowledge, abilities, and personal attributes that are critical to successful work
accomplishment.
Competency model - CORRECT ANSWER-Set of competencies that together make up a profile for success for a paticular job.
Compliance evaluation - CORRECT ANSWER-Evaluation that requires an organization to provide details on and documentation of its affirmative action plan.
Comprehension - CORRECT ANSWER-Level of learning characterized by ability to translate or interpret information.
Concurrent validity - CORRECT ANSWER-Type of criterion-related validity determined by relating the test scores of a group of test takers who take a test (test A) to some
other criterion measure (test B) that is administered at the same time.
Congressional Accountability Act - CORRECT ANSWER-Act that identifies selected federal employee relations and civil rights legislation enacted by Congress that
applies to employees of Congress.
Construct validity - CORRECT ANSWER-Extent to which a selection device measures the theoretical construct or trait (e.g., intelligence or mechanical comprehension).
Constructive discharge - CORRECT ANSWER-Occurs when an employer makes working conditions so intolerable that an employee has no choice but to resign.
Consumer Credit Protection Act - CORRECT ANSWER-Act that limits the amount of wages that can be garnished or withheld in any one week by and employer to satisfy
creditors.
Consumer price index - CORRECT ANSWER-Measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by consumers for goods and services.
Content validity - CORRECT ANSWER-Degree to which an interview, test, or other selection device measures the knowledge, skills, abilities, or other qualifications that
are part of the job.
Contrast error - CORRECT ANSWER-Error that occurs when an employee's rating is based on how his or her performance compares to that of another employee rathe r
than objective standards.
Control - CORRECT ANSWER-To an operations department, an after-the-fact evaluation of a company's ability to meet its own specifications and its customers' needs.
Control chart - CORRECT ANSWER-Chart that illustrates variations from normal in a situation over time.
Copyright - CORRECT ANSWER-Form of protection provided by the US government to authors of 'original works' to exclude others from printing or otherwise duplicating,
distributing, or vending copies of their literary, artistic, and other creative expressions.
Copyright Act - CORRECT ANSWER-Act that defines the protection provided to authors of 'original works' to exclude others from printing or otherwise duplicating,
distributing, or vending copies of their literary, artistic, and other creative expressions, including through the various me ans of technology.
Core competencies - CORRECT ANSWER-Skills, knowledge, and abilities that employees must possess in order to successfully perform job functions that are essentia l
to business operations.
Corporate management compliance evaluation (CMCE) - CORRECT ANSWER-Evaluation designed to ensure that qualified minorities and women do not encounter
artificial barriers to future advancement into mid-level and senior corporate management.
Correlation - CORRECT ANSWER-Measure that indicates the relationship between two variables.
Cost-benefit analysis - CORRECT ANSWER-Ratio of value created to cost of creating that value; allows management to determine the financial impact particular
activities and programs have on an organization's profitability.
Criterion-related validity - CORRECT ANSWER-Refers to the link between a selection device and job performance.
Cultural noise - CORRECT ANSWER-Failure to recognize responses of a candidate that are socially acceptable rather than factual.
Decentralization - CORRECT ANSWER-Degree to which decision-making authority is given to lower levels in an organization's hierarchy.
Decreasing returns - CORRECT ANSWER-Type of learning curve in which the amount of learning or skill level increases rapidly at first and then the rate of improve ment
slows.
Delphi technique - CORRECT ANSWER-Forecasting technique that progressively collects information from a group without physically assembling the contributors.
Departmentalization - CORRECT ANSWER-Way an organization groups jobs to coordinate work.
Developmental activities - CORRECT ANSWER-Activities that focus on preparing employees for future responsibilities while increasing their capacity to perform their
current jobs.
Directive interview - CORRECT ANSWER-Type of interview in which interviewer poses specific questions to a candidate and keeps control.
Disability - CORRECT ANSWER-Physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities.
Disparate impact - CORRECT ANSWER-Occurs when the selection rate for an employment decision works to the disadvantage of a protected class; also known as
adverse impact.
Disparate treatment - CORRECT ANSWER-Occurs when protected classes are intentiionally treated differently from other employees or are evaluated by different
standards.
correct answers
Accounts Payable - CORRECT ANSWER-Money an organization owes its vendors and suppliers.
Accounts Receivable - CORRECT ANSWER-Money an organization's customers owe the organization.
Action Plans - CORRECT ANSWER-Detailed steps a unit, department, or team will take in order to achieve short-term objectives.
ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) - CORRECT ANSWER-Amendments to Americans with Disabilities Act covering the definition of individuals regarded as having a
disability, mitigating measures, and other rules of construction to guide the analysis of what constitutes a disability.
ADDIE model - CORRECT ANSWER-Five-step instructional design process that governs the development of human resource development programs.
Adverse impact - CORRECT ANSWER-Occurs when the selection rate for an employment decision works to the disadvantage of a protected class; also known as
disparate impact.
Affirmative action (AA) - CORRECT ANSWER-Practice in which employers make efforts to increase the presence of women, miniorities, covered veterans, and disabled
individuals in the workplace and take positive steps to correct their underutilization.
Affirmative action plans (AAPs) - CORRECT ANSWER-Written plans that outline an organization's programs, policies, and procedures for proactively ensuring equal
opportunity in all aspects of employment, such as recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, and compensating.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) - CORRECT ANSWER-Act that prohibits discrimination in employment for persons age 40 and over.
Albemarle Paper v. Moody - CORRECT ANSWER-1975 court ruling that items used to validate employment requirements must be job related.
Alternative staffing - CORRECT ANSWER-Use of alternative recruiting sources and workers who are not regular employees; also know as flexible staffing.
Amendment - CORRECT ANSWER-Modification or the Constitution or a law; modification may be either formal (written) or informal (unwritten).
Amerians with Disabilities Act (ADA) - CORRECT ANSWER-Act that prohibits discrimination against a qualified individual with a disability because of his/her disability.
Analysis - CORRECT ANSWER-Level of learning characterized by understnading information to the level of being able to break it down and explain how it f its together.
Andragogy - CORRECT ANSWER-Study of how adults learn.
Application - CORRECT ANSWER-Level of learning characterized by ability to use learned information in a new situation.
Apprenticeship - CORRECT ANSWER-Relates to technical skills training; often a partnership between employers and unions.
Aptitude - CORRECT ANSWER-Ability to learn information or acquire a skill.
Aptitude tests - CORRECT ANSWER-Tests that measure the general ability or capacity to learn or acquire a new skill.
Assessment centers - CORRECT ANSWER-Method of evaluating candidates using content-valid work samples of a job; typically for managerial positions.
Assets - CORRECT ANSWER-Financial, physical, and sometiems intangible properties an organization owns.
Asynchronous learning - CORRECT ANSWER-Type of e-learning in which participants access information at different times and in different places.
Auditory learners - CORRECT ANSWER-People who learn best by relying on their sense of hearing.
Availability analysis - CORRECT ANSWER-Analysis in which organization considers internal and external availability in determining theoretical availability of minorities
and women for established job groups.
Balance Sheet - CORRECT ANSWER-Statement of a firm's financial position at a particular time.
Balanced scorecard - CORRECT ANSWER-Measurement approach that provides an overall picture of an organization's performance as measured against goals in
finance, customers, internal business processes, and learning and growth.
Behavioral interview - CORRECT ANSWER-Type of interview that focuses on how applicant previously handled real situations.
Bill - CORRECT ANSWER-Proposal presented to a legislative body for possible enactment as a law.
Bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) - CORRECT ANSWER-Situation in which religion, sex, or national orgin is reasonably necessary to carry out a particular job
function in the normal operations of an organization.
Break-even analysis - CORRECT ANSWER-Analysis that shows point in time at which total revenue associated with a program is equal to the total cost of the program.
Business Case - CORRECT ANSWER-Description of an organizational challenge and possible alternative solutions, arguing for specific solution.
Capacity - CORRECT ANSWER-To an operations department, the ability to yield output.
Career planning - CORRECT ANSWER-Actions and activities that individuals perform in order to give direction to their work life.
Cash flow statement - CORRECT ANSWER-Record of how much cash is flowing into and out of an organization, including its sources or destinations.
Cause-and-effect diagram - CORRECT ANSWER-Diagram that maps out a list of factors that are thought to affect a problem or a desired outcome.
, Central tendency error - CORRECT ANSWER-Error that occurs when an appraiser rates all employees within a narrow range, regardless of differences in actual
performance.
Centralization - CORRECT ANSWER-Degree to which decision-making authority is restricted to higher levels of management in an organization.
Check sheets - CORRECT ANSWER-Simple visual tools used to collect and analyze data.
City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson Company - CORRECT ANSWER-1989 Court ruling that the numerical quota system of Richmond, VA was unconstitutional because the
city had not laid the proper groundwork and had not adequately identified or documented discrimination.
Civil Rights Act of 1991 - CORRECT ANSWER-Act that expands the possible damage awards available to victims of intentional discrimination to include compensatory
and punitive damages; gives plaintiffs in cases of alleged discrimination the right to a jury trial.
Civil Rights of 1964 - CORRECT ANSWER-First comprehensive US law making it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national orgin.
Closed questions - CORRECT ANSWER-Questions that can usually be answered with yes or no.
Co-employment - CORRECT ANSWER-Situation in which an organization shares responsibility and liability for their alternative workers with an alternative staffing
supplier; also known as joint employment.
Code of ethics - CORRECT ANSWER-Principles of conduct within an organization that guide decision making and behavior.
Cognitive ability tests - CORRECT ANSWER-Tests that assess skills the candidate has already learned.
Competencies - CORRECT ANSWER-Set of behaviors encompassing skills, knowledge, abilities, and personal attributes that are critical to successful work
accomplishment.
Competency model - CORRECT ANSWER-Set of competencies that together make up a profile for success for a paticular job.
Compliance evaluation - CORRECT ANSWER-Evaluation that requires an organization to provide details on and documentation of its affirmative action plan.
Comprehension - CORRECT ANSWER-Level of learning characterized by ability to translate or interpret information.
Concurrent validity - CORRECT ANSWER-Type of criterion-related validity determined by relating the test scores of a group of test takers who take a test (test A) to some
other criterion measure (test B) that is administered at the same time.
Congressional Accountability Act - CORRECT ANSWER-Act that identifies selected federal employee relations and civil rights legislation enacted by Congress that
applies to employees of Congress.
Construct validity - CORRECT ANSWER-Extent to which a selection device measures the theoretical construct or trait (e.g., intelligence or mechanical comprehension).
Constructive discharge - CORRECT ANSWER-Occurs when an employer makes working conditions so intolerable that an employee has no choice but to resign.
Consumer Credit Protection Act - CORRECT ANSWER-Act that limits the amount of wages that can be garnished or withheld in any one week by and employer to satisfy
creditors.
Consumer price index - CORRECT ANSWER-Measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by consumers for goods and services.
Content validity - CORRECT ANSWER-Degree to which an interview, test, or other selection device measures the knowledge, skills, abilities, or other qualifications that
are part of the job.
Contrast error - CORRECT ANSWER-Error that occurs when an employee's rating is based on how his or her performance compares to that of another employee rathe r
than objective standards.
Control - CORRECT ANSWER-To an operations department, an after-the-fact evaluation of a company's ability to meet its own specifications and its customers' needs.
Control chart - CORRECT ANSWER-Chart that illustrates variations from normal in a situation over time.
Copyright - CORRECT ANSWER-Form of protection provided by the US government to authors of 'original works' to exclude others from printing or otherwise duplicating,
distributing, or vending copies of their literary, artistic, and other creative expressions.
Copyright Act - CORRECT ANSWER-Act that defines the protection provided to authors of 'original works' to exclude others from printing or otherwise duplicating,
distributing, or vending copies of their literary, artistic, and other creative expressions, including through the various me ans of technology.
Core competencies - CORRECT ANSWER-Skills, knowledge, and abilities that employees must possess in order to successfully perform job functions that are essentia l
to business operations.
Corporate management compliance evaluation (CMCE) - CORRECT ANSWER-Evaluation designed to ensure that qualified minorities and women do not encounter
artificial barriers to future advancement into mid-level and senior corporate management.
Correlation - CORRECT ANSWER-Measure that indicates the relationship between two variables.
Cost-benefit analysis - CORRECT ANSWER-Ratio of value created to cost of creating that value; allows management to determine the financial impact particular
activities and programs have on an organization's profitability.
Criterion-related validity - CORRECT ANSWER-Refers to the link between a selection device and job performance.
Cultural noise - CORRECT ANSWER-Failure to recognize responses of a candidate that are socially acceptable rather than factual.
Decentralization - CORRECT ANSWER-Degree to which decision-making authority is given to lower levels in an organization's hierarchy.
Decreasing returns - CORRECT ANSWER-Type of learning curve in which the amount of learning or skill level increases rapidly at first and then the rate of improve ment
slows.
Delphi technique - CORRECT ANSWER-Forecasting technique that progressively collects information from a group without physically assembling the contributors.
Departmentalization - CORRECT ANSWER-Way an organization groups jobs to coordinate work.
Developmental activities - CORRECT ANSWER-Activities that focus on preparing employees for future responsibilities while increasing their capacity to perform their
current jobs.
Directive interview - CORRECT ANSWER-Type of interview in which interviewer poses specific questions to a candidate and keeps control.
Disability - CORRECT ANSWER-Physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities.
Disparate impact - CORRECT ANSWER-Occurs when the selection rate for an employment decision works to the disadvantage of a protected class; also known as
adverse impact.
Disparate treatment - CORRECT ANSWER-Occurs when protected classes are intentiionally treated differently from other employees or are evaluated by different
standards.
