Question 1

Which of the following statements is true of the reliability of a measurement?

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to the measuring instrument rather than to the characteristic itself. Reliability can be estimated in several different ways and most of these rely on computing a correlation coefficient.

Question 2

When assessing the reliability of a measure, one might be interested in knowing how scores on the measure at one time relate to scores on the same measure at another time. This is called:

Accepted Answer

When assessing the reliability of a measure, one might be interested in knowing how scores on the measure at one time relate to scores on the same measure at another time. If the characteristic being measured is supposedly stable (like intelligence or integrity)and the time lapse is short, this relationship should be strong. If it were weak, then the measure would be inconsistent-hence unreliable. This is called assessing test-retest reliability.

Question 3

Which of the following correlation coefficients indicates a perfect positive relationship?

Accepted Answer

The correlation coefficient expresses the strength of the relationship in numerical form. A perfect positive relationship (as one set of numbers goes up, so does the other)equals +1.0.

Question 4

Which of the following is the most accurate definition of concurrent validity?

Accepted Answer

Criterion-related validity studies come in two varieties: predictive validity and concurrent validity. Concurrent validation assesses the validity of a test by administering it to people already on the job and then correlating test scores with existing measures of each person's performance.

Question 5

Predictive validation is superior to concurrent validation because:

Accepted Answer

Job applicants (because they are seeking work)are typically more motivated to perform well on the tests than are current employees (who already have jobs). This makes predictive valuation more valuable than concurrent valuation.

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true regarding reliability and validity?

Accepted Answer

A measure must be reliable if it is to have any validity. Reliability is a necessary but insufficient condition for validity.

Question 7

_____ validation seeks to establish an empirical relationship between test scores taken prior to being hired and eventual performance on the job.

Accepted Answer

Criterion-related validity studies come in two varieties: predictive validity and concurrent validity. Predictive validation seeks to establish an empirical relationship between test scores taken prior to being hired and eventual performance on the job.

Question 8

The _____ is a measure of the degree to which two sets of numbers are related.

Accepted Answer

The correlation coefficient is a measure of the degree to which two sets of numbers are related. The correlation coefficient expresses the strength of the relationship in numerical form.

Question 9

The Polygraph Act permitted the use of polygraphs in employment screening.

Accepted Answer

Many companies formerly employed polygraph tests, or lie detectors, to evaluate job applicants, but this changed with the passage of the Polygraph Act in 1988. This act banned the use of polygraphs in employment screening for most organizations.

Question 10

Work-sample tests are not job specific and their generalizability is high.

Accepted Answer

One main drawback of work-sample tests is that because these tests are job-specific, their generalizability is low.

Question 11

To test the validity of your selection device for widget makers, you have given it to the present widget makers in your company and correlated it with their latest performance appraisal scores. What type of strategy have you used?

Accepted Answer

Concurrent Validation assess the validity of a test by administering it to people already on the job and then correlating test scores with existing measures of each person's performance.

Question 12

The major controversies surrounding drug tests concern their reliability and validity.

Accepted Answer

The major controversies surrounding drug tests involve not their reliability and validity but whether they represent an invasion of privacy, an unreasonable search and seizure, or a violation of due process. Urinalysis and blood tests are invasive procedures, and accusing someone of drug use is a serious matter.

Question 13

Which of the following correlation coefficients indicates a perfect negative relationship?

Accepted Answer

The correlation coefficient expresses the strength of the relationship in numerical form. A negative relationship (as one goes up, the other goes down)equals -1.0.

Question 14

_____ is defined as the degree to which a measure is free from random error.

Accepted Answer

One key standard for any measuring device is its reliability. Reliability is defined as the degree to which a measure is free from random error.

Question 15

One of the positive features of the paper-and-pencil honesty test is that one does not see large differences attributable to race or sex, so they are not likely to have adverse impact on these demographic groups.

Accepted Answer

A large-scale independent review of validity studies suggests that paper-and-pencil honesty tests can predict both theft and other disruptive behaviors. Another positive feature of these tests is that one does not see large differences attributable to race or sex, so they are not likely to have adverse impact on these demographic groups.

Question 16

Which of the following validation strategies is most likely to be adversely affected by the restriction of range problem that results from current employees tending to be homogeneous?

Accepted Answer

Restriction of range problem affects concurrent validation. Current employees tend to be homogeneous-that is, similar to each other on many characteristics. Thus, on many of the characteristics needed for success on the job, most current employees will show restriction in range. This restricted range makes it hard to detect a relationship between test scores and job-performance scores because few of the current employees will be very low on the characteristic you are trying to validate.

Question 17

Employees with high conscientious tend to be lethargic and ill-disciplined.

Accepted Answer

By nature, conscientious employees are dependable, organized, persevering, thorough, and achievement-oriented.

Question 18

The extent to which performance on the selection measure is associated with performance on the job is called:

Accepted Answer

Validity is the extent to which performance on the measure is related to performance on the job. A measure must be reliable if it is to have any validity.

Question 19

If there is a substantial correlation between test scores and job-performance scores, _____ validity has been established.

Accepted Answer

One way of establishing the validity of a selection method is to show that there is an empirical association between scores on the selection measure and scores for job performance. If there is a substantial correlation between test scores and job-performance scores, criterion-related validity has been established.

Question 20

Which of the following steps can help an organization increase the reliability of its interview process?

Accepted Answer

There are many steps one can take to increase the reliability of the interview process, such as providing raters with standardized training and common formats for translating observed behaviors into scores on dimensions.

Quiz 6: Selection and Placement