A survey asked newspaper editors how they assess job candidates, particularly whether they use skills testing. A stratified random sample of editors at 350 American daily newspapers was divided into four categories based on circulation. Completed questionnaires were obtained from 154 respondents (44% response rate). Results indicated that over 55%…

This paper describes the Work Keys system, a program developed by American College Testing (ACT) to help improve the job skills of the workforce. This project is being conducted with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to examine the extent to which Work Keys assessment information can be used to address the human resources needs for three…

Work Keys provides a metric that translates skill requirements for individual jobs into levels of proficiency. It has been developed as a multifunctional program with the interactive components of Job Profiling, Instructional Support, Reporting, and Assessment. The assessment component contains applied mathematics, applied technology, teamwork,…

An exploratory application of audio-visual media to the occupation proficiency testing of enlisted soldiers is described. A five-response console which had been developed as a laboratory model was used. A DataQuest machine was adapted for delivery of a multiple choice test of job knowledge. In being tested, the soldier sat in front of the console…

To replace traditional methods of minimum competency testing in personnel selection, a two stage cutting score procedure is proposed. The Angoff procedure is modified so that only a subset of test items, which assess essential job related skills, are used to determine the cutting score and to identify qualifed applicants. As a measure of item…

Assessment centers offer a way to solve the problems of validity and reliability in personnel selection. An assessment center conducts tests of administrative skills in which trained assessors observe and record candidates' job-related behaviors and reach a consensus assessment of each candidate's performance. To apply the assessment center model…

A previous review of the effects of stressors on military performance shows that different stressors have different effects, the effects of stress vary with the type of skill being measured, the presence of certain stressors leads to decrements in performance, and incident-related stress accompanying these stressors can further impair performance.…

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…

Electronic troubleshooting expertise was explored in the three contexts (design, production, and repair) that reflect distinct problem solving task environments. The purpose of the effort was to provide a more precise definition of the boundaries of expertise in electronics troubleshooting and the relationship of context to the development of…

In Arkansas, in reaction to complaints about traditional methods of selection for promotion, the civil service commission has chosen to base promotions in the police department solely on scores on locally-developed objective tests. Items developed and loaded into a computerized test bank were selected from six areas of responsibility: (1) criminal…

The American College Testing Program is developing a new program, Work Keys, a system to develop and assess employability skills. It consists of four components: (1) a systematic process for profiling job skill requirements; (2) assessments that measure learners' job skill levels; (3) procedures and formats for conveying assessment results so they…

A meta-analysis examines the predictive validity of three methods for evaluating the education and experiences (E&E) of applicants for entry and full-performance level jobs, focusing on federal white-collar jobs. The following are methods of rating education and experience: (1) Point, assigning points to the duration and type of past education…

The scaling of a new assessment is a significant undertaking. The scaling of a new assessment designed as a multiple-level, criterion-referenced assessment is even more so. A Guttman approach to scaling was used with the Work Keys selected-response assessments, Reading for Information and Applied Mathematics. Assessments in development in the Work…

The development of job-specific tests (JSTs) for two occupations is discussed. A reading comprehension test and a mathematical reasoning test were developed for Customs Inspectors, and a reading comprehension test was developed for Social Security Claims workers. JST items incorporated reading samples or math problems from those found on the job.…

Work Keys (occupational tests developed by American College Testing) could support an employer's human resource function in a number of ways: (1) communicating to educators the skill requirements for an employer's particular jobs on a national basis; (2) providing students with a realistic preview of skills needed for jobs and an assessment of…