AICP Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
- Mesage Pyramid - CORRECT ANSWERS Consists of a Key
Message on top, a First Proof layer in the middle, and a Second Proof
layer at the bottom. Key Messages should be long-lasting and
consistent statements, regardless of situation. They should create an
environment and a belief system among your key audiences.
The two "proof layers" are proof points that back up the key message.
The first proof point is a factual statement about the benefits of
planning. The second proof point amplifies the first, using, e.g., "a
startling statistic, an anecdote, an endorsement of planning from an
allied group, or an amplification of the core statement."
Bridging - CORRECT ANSWERS Technique that planners can
use to reframe controversial issues, responding to opponents while
also recasting how the issue is viewed. The trick is to use transitional
phrases to stay on message when asked a question that could take you
off topic.
Public participation is increasingly digital, what are some suggested
tips? - CORRECT ANSWERS 81 percent of Americans have
smartphones—digital outreach should be mobile app compatible.
Provide mobile hotspots to supplement internet services.
Standardize public engagement practices — whether in person or
virtual — so stakeholders always know what to expect and feel more
comfortable about participating.
,Feedback from digital communications is often taken less seriously;
planners should overcome this bias.
In virtual meetings, provide live translation.
Phone interviews and mailed surveys with postage-paid return
envelopes are still useful feedback options.
Planners need to consider what resources and limitations they have
when they consider participation strategies - CORRECT ANSWERS
They should know that about 27% of adults do not have
broadband at home, and 9% of US residents (over the age of 5) have
limited English. Another 19% can not read a newspaper (due to sight
impairment and other reasons)
Design Charette - CORRECT ANSWERS An intensive
collaborative effort that brings together citizens, stakeholders, and
staff to develop a detailed design plan for a specific area. A charrette
may be held over one or more days. This is an effective technique for
quickly developing consensus.
Delphi Method, or Delphi Technique - CORRECT ANSWERS
A structured process of public participation with the intent of
coming to a consensus decision. This method was created in 1944 for
the U.S. Army Air Force (Rand Corportation in 1950). A panel of
selected, informed citizens and stakeholders are asked to complete a
series of questionnaires. The questions are typically written as
hypotheses. After each round of questioning, feedback on the
responses is presented to the group anonymously. Participants are
encouraged to revise their answers based on the replies heard. Over
,time, the range of answers decreases and the group converges towards
a single solution.
Nominal Group Technique - CORRECT ANSWERS A group
process involving problem identification, solution generation, and
decision making that can be used for groups of any size that want to
come to a decision by vote. The Nominal Group Technique allows for
everyone's opinions to be considered by starting with every group
member sharing their ideas briefly. Someone creates a list of ideas.
Duplicate solutions are deleted. Participants then rank the solutions.
The rankings are then discussed, which can lead to further ideas or
combinations of ideas. The solution with the highest ranking is
selected.
Visual preference survey - CORRECT ANSWERS A technique
that can be used to assist citizens in evaluating physical images of
natural and built environments. Citizens are asked to view and
evaluate a wide variety of pictures depicting houses, sites, building
styles, streetscapes, etc. Aggregated scores can be used to determine
resident preferences.
Coffee Klatch & Planning Cell - CORRECT ANSWERS A
coffee klatch is an informal gathering at a neighbor's house. A
planning cell is a randomly-selected group of participants who
collaborate on developing solutions to a given issue.
Ripple Effect Mapping (REM) - CORRECT ANSWERS A
method used in evaluation to engage key stakeholders in assessing the
impact of community engagement. Participants look back over a
period of time and create a visual map of direct or indirect impacts of
community engagement.
, Process Evaluation, Outcome Evaluation, and Impact Evaluation -
CORRECT ANSWERS Process Evaluation involves collecting
data in the planning and implementation phases, such as frequency
and content of planning meetings, inclusiveness of process, and
diversity/representativeness of planners. Process evaluations are done
at the beginning and throughout the engagement process.
Outcome Evaluation assesses change resulting from community
engagement, such as change in the way people engage with each other
and change resulting from their engagement. Evaluation might
involve collecting individual or community level changes in how
people engage with each other. Outcome evaluation is conducted at
the end of an engagement process. Outcome evaluation answers the
question: To what extent are people in the community engaged?
Impact Evaluation seeks to establish evidence of causality. It requires
random assignment of participants and the use of an intervention
group and a control group. This evaluation can be more challenging to
implement and costly to do because of the prerequisites needed to be
able to conduct it effectively (having a long-standing community
engagement program with a lot of data already collected, previous
evaluations, and significant time, financial and humancapacity to
conduct the evaluation). This type of evaluation answers the question:
To what extent can community change be attributed to community
engagement?
Bridging Terms - CORRECT ANSWERS NOT "That is a good
question..."
INSTEAD "Here's what I am here to talk about..."
CORRECT ANSWERS
- Mesage Pyramid - CORRECT ANSWERS Consists of a Key
Message on top, a First Proof layer in the middle, and a Second Proof
layer at the bottom. Key Messages should be long-lasting and
consistent statements, regardless of situation. They should create an
environment and a belief system among your key audiences.
The two "proof layers" are proof points that back up the key message.
The first proof point is a factual statement about the benefits of
planning. The second proof point amplifies the first, using, e.g., "a
startling statistic, an anecdote, an endorsement of planning from an
allied group, or an amplification of the core statement."
Bridging - CORRECT ANSWERS Technique that planners can
use to reframe controversial issues, responding to opponents while
also recasting how the issue is viewed. The trick is to use transitional
phrases to stay on message when asked a question that could take you
off topic.
Public participation is increasingly digital, what are some suggested
tips? - CORRECT ANSWERS 81 percent of Americans have
smartphones—digital outreach should be mobile app compatible.
Provide mobile hotspots to supplement internet services.
Standardize public engagement practices — whether in person or
virtual — so stakeholders always know what to expect and feel more
comfortable about participating.
,Feedback from digital communications is often taken less seriously;
planners should overcome this bias.
In virtual meetings, provide live translation.
Phone interviews and mailed surveys with postage-paid return
envelopes are still useful feedback options.
Planners need to consider what resources and limitations they have
when they consider participation strategies - CORRECT ANSWERS
They should know that about 27% of adults do not have
broadband at home, and 9% of US residents (over the age of 5) have
limited English. Another 19% can not read a newspaper (due to sight
impairment and other reasons)
Design Charette - CORRECT ANSWERS An intensive
collaborative effort that brings together citizens, stakeholders, and
staff to develop a detailed design plan for a specific area. A charrette
may be held over one or more days. This is an effective technique for
quickly developing consensus.
Delphi Method, or Delphi Technique - CORRECT ANSWERS
A structured process of public participation with the intent of
coming to a consensus decision. This method was created in 1944 for
the U.S. Army Air Force (Rand Corportation in 1950). A panel of
selected, informed citizens and stakeholders are asked to complete a
series of questionnaires. The questions are typically written as
hypotheses. After each round of questioning, feedback on the
responses is presented to the group anonymously. Participants are
encouraged to revise their answers based on the replies heard. Over
,time, the range of answers decreases and the group converges towards
a single solution.
Nominal Group Technique - CORRECT ANSWERS A group
process involving problem identification, solution generation, and
decision making that can be used for groups of any size that want to
come to a decision by vote. The Nominal Group Technique allows for
everyone's opinions to be considered by starting with every group
member sharing their ideas briefly. Someone creates a list of ideas.
Duplicate solutions are deleted. Participants then rank the solutions.
The rankings are then discussed, which can lead to further ideas or
combinations of ideas. The solution with the highest ranking is
selected.
Visual preference survey - CORRECT ANSWERS A technique
that can be used to assist citizens in evaluating physical images of
natural and built environments. Citizens are asked to view and
evaluate a wide variety of pictures depicting houses, sites, building
styles, streetscapes, etc. Aggregated scores can be used to determine
resident preferences.
Coffee Klatch & Planning Cell - CORRECT ANSWERS A
coffee klatch is an informal gathering at a neighbor's house. A
planning cell is a randomly-selected group of participants who
collaborate on developing solutions to a given issue.
Ripple Effect Mapping (REM) - CORRECT ANSWERS A
method used in evaluation to engage key stakeholders in assessing the
impact of community engagement. Participants look back over a
period of time and create a visual map of direct or indirect impacts of
community engagement.
, Process Evaluation, Outcome Evaluation, and Impact Evaluation -
CORRECT ANSWERS Process Evaluation involves collecting
data in the planning and implementation phases, such as frequency
and content of planning meetings, inclusiveness of process, and
diversity/representativeness of planners. Process evaluations are done
at the beginning and throughout the engagement process.
Outcome Evaluation assesses change resulting from community
engagement, such as change in the way people engage with each other
and change resulting from their engagement. Evaluation might
involve collecting individual or community level changes in how
people engage with each other. Outcome evaluation is conducted at
the end of an engagement process. Outcome evaluation answers the
question: To what extent are people in the community engaged?
Impact Evaluation seeks to establish evidence of causality. It requires
random assignment of participants and the use of an intervention
group and a control group. This evaluation can be more challenging to
implement and costly to do because of the prerequisites needed to be
able to conduct it effectively (having a long-standing community
engagement program with a lot of data already collected, previous
evaluations, and significant time, financial and humancapacity to
conduct the evaluation). This type of evaluation answers the question:
To what extent can community change be attributed to community
engagement?
Bridging Terms - CORRECT ANSWERS NOT "That is a good
question..."
INSTEAD "Here's what I am here to talk about..."
