Atlanta Police Department Signals Practice Test

Collecting data to understand the problem and inform responses happens in the Analysis phase of the problem-solving process. In this step, you gather and examine information from crime statistics, community and stakeholder input, environmental factors, offender patterns, and other evidence to map the scope, patterns, root causes, and contributing factors of the issue. This analysis helps you determine why the problem is occurring, where and when it is most likely to happen, and who is affected, which directly guides the development of effective responses.

The other phases serve different roles: Scanning identifies and defines the problem; the Response phase designs and implements interventions; and Assessment evaluates outcomes to see if the interventions worked and what adjustments are needed.