The construct validity of biographical items in the Individual Achievement Record (IAR) was assessed in an attempt to develop a confirmatory factor model. This first phase of a two-phase study focused on the IAR's use as a predictor of job performance. The IAR is an empirically keyed biodata inventory containing 112 multiple-choice items. Item…

Several standard measures of aptitude, interest, attitude, and personality are briefly described, including the General Aptitude Test Battery, the Clerical Skills Tests, other tests sponsored by the United States Employment Service; and the Strong Campbell Interest Inventory. This volume also reviews special assessment techniques for the severely…

Examines the legitimacy of concern with the disproportionate distribution of false negatives and positives in job screening through imperfectly predictive tests. Argues that false negatives should pose problems for meritocrats concerned with individual over group rights, and that result-oriented quotas must be differentiated from screening with…

Performance testing is discussed as a method for teacher evaluation. Although new to teaching, performance assessment has a long history in assessment of other occupations, and much can be learned from this experience. Performance assessments, measuring knowledge and abilities in use, can help sharpen the definition of teacher competence. (SLD)

This paper addresses the cross-cultural development and use of the Behavior Description Index (BDI). The development of culturally-transportable scales; cross-cultural comparisons of results for 12 Spanish, 15 Hungarian, 15 Indonesian, and U.S. managers; and the transportability of competencies as constructs are considered. A competency is an…

Findings of the National Commission on Testing and Public Policy concerning problems in testing are reported. Recommendations are proposed for restructuring educational and employment testing to help people develop their talents and become more productive, and to help institutions become more productive, accountable, and just. Over a 3-year…

This document collects five presentations in the field of vocational counseling and guidance. Its aim is to share research reports with vocational counselors, enhancing the level of this service in Canada. In the first paper, Benjamin Gottlieb discusses social networks and the gestalt of help-seeking, pointing out that persons are attached to…

Employment tests predict job performance because they measure or are correlated with a large set of malleable developed abilities, which are causally related to productivity. Our economy currently under-rewards the achievements that are measured by these tests. Consequently, economic incentives to study hard in high school are minimal, and this…

Supports and defends the work of the National Research Council's Committee on the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). Argues that, through validity generalization, the distinction between referral and hiring, and the establishment of a "performance-fair" system of score adjustments, the GATB can be used to effect equitable employment…

Discusses problems with the Committee on the General Aptitude Test Battery's report "Fairness in Employment Testing" (1989). Finds that, while the report is thorough, major questions remain in a number of areas, including inconsistent definitions, "false negatives," rationale for criteria, and lack of full disclosure. Endorses…

Generalizability theory is used to examine the psychometric characteristics of the Listening and Writing Tests developed by American College Testing for its Work Keys program. Results with samples of 50 suggest the desirability of a minimum number of the tests' tape-recorded messages and the use of at least 2 raters. (SLD)

Discusses early feminist efforts in psychological assessment, and reviews general issues related to feminist methodology. Successful impact and lack of impact of feminist criticism are illustrated by the revisions of the Strong Campbell Interest Inventory and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (1990), respectively. (SLD)

A series of studies of the experience of employers with schools and their graduates in the 1980s has established that employers want employees with cognitive and subject matter skills, but with other skills as well. These skills are summarized, and the development of an Employment Readiness Profile is proposed, which would be an assessment…

A general evaluation design was developed to examine the effectiveness of a computer-based, multimedia simulation test on California smog check mechanics. The simulation test operated on an Apple Macintosh IIci, with a single touchscreen color monitor controlling a videodisc player; it had three parts: introduction-tutorial-help, data, and test.…

One way for agencies to reduce fiscal stress is to minimize employee turnover. A project undertaken by San Bernardino County (California) to reduce employee turnover through the development, validation, and use of a non-traditional worker selection instrument (biographical inventory) is described. This project was aimed at the specific…