Pre-Employment Assessment and Testing Flashcards

Which type of reliability is estimated by administering the same test to the same group on two separate occasions and correlating the scores?

Answer: Test-retest reliability

Test-retest reliability measures score stability over time by correlating two administrations of the same test to the same individuals.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires employers conducting background checks through a consumer reporting agency to:

Answer: Provide written disclosure and obtain written authorization from the applicant

FCRA mandates that employers give applicants a clear disclosure document and obtain written consent before ordering a background check from a consumer reporting agency.

In the context of pre-employment testing, 'differential item functioning' (DIF) analysis is used to:

Answer: Identify test items that perform differently across demographic groups after controlling for ability level

DIF analysis detects items that favor one group over another among examinees of equal ability, indicating potential item bias that should be reviewed.

A city fire department requires all applicants to pass a physical ability test (PAT). To minimize legal risk, the PAT should be designed to:

Answer: Simulate the critical physical demands identified through job analysis

Physical ability tests must be grounded in job analysis that identifies critical physical tasks, ensuring the test measures job-relevant demands rather than arbitrary fitness levels.

Which concept refers to the proportion of future employees who would be successful if selected using a given assessment?

Answer: Positive predictive value (success rate)

Positive predictive value (success rate) is the proportion of selected candidates who turn out to be successful performers, reflecting the practical accuracy of the selection decision.

An employer uses a 'multiple hurdles' selection approach, which means:

Answer: Candidates must pass each successive assessment to continue in the process

In a multiple hurdles model, candidates must meet a minimum threshold on each successive assessment stage before advancing, ensuring only candidates who clear every requirement proceed.

When a selection test is described as having 'incremental validity,' it means the test:

Answer: Adds predictive accuracy beyond what is provided by existing selection tools

Incremental validity demonstrates that a new predictor adds statistically significant improvement in predicting job performance over and above predictors already in use.