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ERIC Number: ED355382
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1992-May
Pages: 7
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Reducing Adverse Impact: One City's Efforts.
Prewitt, Jeff
Following a workshop on "Innovations in Employment Testing that Improve Validity and Reduce Adverse Impact," the City of Louisville (Kentucky) implemented a strategy to develop a comprehensive testing and recruiting program for police recruits. To improve candidate expectations and preparation, the following activities were undertaken: intense recruitment of minorities; revision and validation of a Test Preparation Manual (TPM) that provided motivated candidates from a disadvantaged educational background a means of focused study; and test-taking classes, study skills classes, support groups, and classes covering material in the TPM as well as mini-academies to answer questions about the TPM. Practice tests were also used to help candidates prepare. The city addressed the testing format and content by implementing the TPM approach, offering classes over the material in the TPM, and adding an oral examination to the process. The Angoff method was used to establish a cutoff for scores on the written test. The cutoff was set at lower standards of error, and an alternate method was used to establish wider bands of scores to provide more candidates for consideration. Several problems were encountered: getting support from community leaders, loss of large numbers of minority candidates on the polygraph, and sensationalization of problems by the press and community leaders. (Appendixes include a list of methods to increase validity and reduce adverse impact and a list of Louisville efforts to do so.) (YLB)
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Kentucky (Louisville)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A