ITGSS Certified Technical Associate: Project Management Practice Exam

Which outcome is described as a positive but should be negative?

1. True Positive

2. False Positive

3. False Negative

4. True Negative

The correct answer is: False Positive

The term that is described as a positive but should be negative is a False Positive. In the context of data analysis and testing, a False Positive occurs when a test mistakenly indicates that a certain condition or attribute is present when it is actually not. This situation is particularly relevant in fields like medical testing, fraud detection, and cybersecurity. For example, if a medical test indicates that a patient has a disease when they do not, this is a False Positive. The implication of a False Positive can lead to unnecessary stress, further testing, or incorrect treatment plans for the patient, which highlights its negative impact despite being reported as a positive. It emphasizes the importance of accuracy in testing to avoid the potential misinterpretations that can arise from such outcomes. In contrast, other options describe correct interpretations of conditions. True Positives accurately identify a presence of a condition, True Negatives correctly indicate absence, and False Negatives reflect a missed detection of a condition that is actually present. Understanding these concepts is crucial for effectively analyzing testing outcomes and their implications in various scenarios.