SHRM-CP: Analytical Aptitude Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
What is a practical way to develop the credibility of HR staff as data
advocates? -
correct answer ✅Ensure that the results of all HR activities are
measured.
-The best way to establish HR as a data advocate is to be prepared
to discuss the effectiveness of HR programs based on program
results. This helps create a culture in which evidence is expected
and used to make decisions.
How to become an HR data advocate -
correct answer ✅1. Develop a questioning mind (ex. "Why do we
do it this way?"; "What is the evidence for thinking that?")
2. Build fluency in the scientific literature for HR
3. Gather data on a continuous basis about the efficacy and
efficiency of legacy systems (ex. recruiting) and stakeholder
interests
4. Use evidence when communicating with stakeholders
5. Institutionalize the competency in the HR function (ex. establish
journal study groups; at regular meetings, designated members
research and report on new or important classic articles)
Which approach describes the form of data gathering in which
experts take turns presenting their assumptions and refining a
,SHRM-CP: Analytical Aptitude Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
composite answer but never meet face-to-face? -
correct answer ✅Delphi technique
Focus Group Tools: Delphi technique -
correct answer ✅-progressively collects information from a group
on a preselected issue
-the first respondent proposes information, the next respondent
adds something different, and so on, until a list can be compiled
-respondents are anonymous
-in the second round, the researcher circulates the list and asks
each respondent to refine previous ideas, comment on each idea's
strengths and weaknesses for addressing the issue, and to identify
new ideas
-designed to facilitate group involvement, problem solving, and
individual thinking while avoiding "group think" (participants never
meet face-to-face)
Focus Group Tools: Nominal group technique (NGT) -
correct answer ✅-proceeds through rounds in which participants
each suggest ideas
-the rounds continue until no further ideas are proposed
, SHRM-CP: Analytical Aptitude Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
-the group then discusses the items, eliminates redundancies and
irrelevant items, and agrees on the importance of the remaining
items
-can be practiced with idea generation by individuals, subgroups, or
the entire group
Focus Group Tools: Mind mapping & Affinity diagramming -
correct answer ✅1. Mind mapping- begins with the discussion of
core ideas. Group members add related ideas and indicate logical
connections, eventually grouping similar ideas. Can be done on
paper, whiteboard, or sticky notes
2. Affinity diagramming- a way of sorting a large amount of data
that has already been collected. The group categorizes and
subcategorizes data until relationships are clearly drawn
A new CEO has asked the HR team to complete an engagement
survey to assess the organization's culture. She requests that
tenured employees must participate. What type of bias does this
present? -
correct answer ✅Sampling
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
What is a practical way to develop the credibility of HR staff as data
advocates? -
correct answer ✅Ensure that the results of all HR activities are
measured.
-The best way to establish HR as a data advocate is to be prepared
to discuss the effectiveness of HR programs based on program
results. This helps create a culture in which evidence is expected
and used to make decisions.
How to become an HR data advocate -
correct answer ✅1. Develop a questioning mind (ex. "Why do we
do it this way?"; "What is the evidence for thinking that?")
2. Build fluency in the scientific literature for HR
3. Gather data on a continuous basis about the efficacy and
efficiency of legacy systems (ex. recruiting) and stakeholder
interests
4. Use evidence when communicating with stakeholders
5. Institutionalize the competency in the HR function (ex. establish
journal study groups; at regular meetings, designated members
research and report on new or important classic articles)
Which approach describes the form of data gathering in which
experts take turns presenting their assumptions and refining a
,SHRM-CP: Analytical Aptitude Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
composite answer but never meet face-to-face? -
correct answer ✅Delphi technique
Focus Group Tools: Delphi technique -
correct answer ✅-progressively collects information from a group
on a preselected issue
-the first respondent proposes information, the next respondent
adds something different, and so on, until a list can be compiled
-respondents are anonymous
-in the second round, the researcher circulates the list and asks
each respondent to refine previous ideas, comment on each idea's
strengths and weaknesses for addressing the issue, and to identify
new ideas
-designed to facilitate group involvement, problem solving, and
individual thinking while avoiding "group think" (participants never
meet face-to-face)
Focus Group Tools: Nominal group technique (NGT) -
correct answer ✅-proceeds through rounds in which participants
each suggest ideas
-the rounds continue until no further ideas are proposed
, SHRM-CP: Analytical Aptitude Exam
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
-the group then discusses the items, eliminates redundancies and
irrelevant items, and agrees on the importance of the remaining
items
-can be practiced with idea generation by individuals, subgroups, or
the entire group
Focus Group Tools: Mind mapping & Affinity diagramming -
correct answer ✅1. Mind mapping- begins with the discussion of
core ideas. Group members add related ideas and indicate logical
connections, eventually grouping similar ideas. Can be done on
paper, whiteboard, or sticky notes
2. Affinity diagramming- a way of sorting a large amount of data
that has already been collected. The group categorizes and
subcategorizes data until relationships are clearly drawn
A new CEO has asked the HR team to complete an engagement
survey to assess the organization's culture. She requests that
tenured employees must participate. What type of bias does this
present? -
correct answer ✅Sampling