OBHR 3330 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What is personnel selection? What are the 5 common generic standards? - Answers -
the process by which companies decide who will or will not be allowed into
organizations
1. Reliability
2. Validity
3. Generalizability
4. Utility
5. Legality
What is reliability - Answers -the degree to which a measure is free from random error
(consistent overtime) MEASURING INSTRUMENT
What is a correlation coefficient? - Answers -a measure of the degree to which two sets
of numbers are related (strength of relationship in numerical form +1, -1, 0
What is test-retest reliability? - Answers -how scores on the measure at one time relate
on the same measure at another time
What is validity? - Answers -the extent to which performance on a measure is related to
performance on the job
What is criterion-related validity? - Answers -a measure of validity based on showing a
substantial correlation between test scores and job performance scores
What is predictive validation? - Answers -seeks to establish an empirical relationship
between test scores taken PRIOR to being hired and eventual performance on the job
What is concurrent validation? - Answers -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
Why is predictive validation superior to concurrent validation? - Answers -1. Job
applicants are more motivated to perform well on the tests than are current employees
2. Current employees have learned many things on the job that job applicants havent
What is content validation? - Answers -sample of kinds of situations or problems that
may occur on the job (best for small sample sizes)
What are the 2 limitations of content validation? - Answers -1. The person who is hired
must have the knowledge, skills, or abilities at the time he or she is hired.
2. Subjective judgment plays such a large role in content validation.
, What are the 3 processes of validity generalization? - Answers -1. Must prove that the
criterion is a valid predictor for a specific job
2. The job analysis is similar to the job trying to fill and similar to a job elsewhere
3. The test is is similar to that used in another generalized setting
What is utility? - Answers -degree to which the information provided by selection
methods enhances the bottom-line effectiveness of the organization
What is legality? - Answers -all selection methods should conform to existing laws and
existing legal precedents
What is the Civil Rights Act of 1991? - Answers -protects individuals from discrimination
based on race, color, sex, religion with respect to hiring as well as compensation and
working conditions
What is the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967? - Answers -The employer
must show business necessity to those over the age of 40, but is pled guilty is couldnt
(mandatory retirement programs are outlawed through this act)
What is the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990? - Answers -protects individuals
with physical and mental disabilities and requires employers to make reasonable
accommodation to disabled individuals whose handicaps may prevent them from
performing essential functions of the job
What are situational interviews? - Answers -(high predictive validity)
interviewers ask questions dealing with specific situations that are likely to arise on the
job and what the person would likely do in the situation
What are 2 types of situational interview? - Answers -1. Experience based- require
applicant to reveal an experience her or she had in the past to handle the situation
2. Future oriented- how would you handle the situation now
What is a cognitive ability test? - Answers -differentiate individuals based on their
mental rather than physical capacities
What are the 3 types of cognitive ability tests? - Answers -1. Verbal comprehension-
(person's capacity to understand and use written and spoken language)
2. Quantitative ability- speed and accuracy with solving arithmetic problems
3. Reasoning ability- broader concept, person's capacity to invent solutions to problems
What is extroversion? - Answers -sociable, gregarious, assertive, talkative, expressive
What is adjustment? - Answers -emotionally stable, non depressed, secure, content
What is agreeableness? - Answers -courteous, trusting, good-natured, tolerant,
cooperative, forgiving
What is personnel selection? What are the 5 common generic standards? - Answers -
the process by which companies decide who will or will not be allowed into
organizations
1. Reliability
2. Validity
3. Generalizability
4. Utility
5. Legality
What is reliability - Answers -the degree to which a measure is free from random error
(consistent overtime) MEASURING INSTRUMENT
What is a correlation coefficient? - Answers -a measure of the degree to which two sets
of numbers are related (strength of relationship in numerical form +1, -1, 0
What is test-retest reliability? - Answers -how scores on the measure at one time relate
on the same measure at another time
What is validity? - Answers -the extent to which performance on a measure is related to
performance on the job
What is criterion-related validity? - Answers -a measure of validity based on showing a
substantial correlation between test scores and job performance scores
What is predictive validation? - Answers -seeks to establish an empirical relationship
between test scores taken PRIOR to being hired and eventual performance on the job
What is concurrent validation? - Answers -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
Why is predictive validation superior to concurrent validation? - Answers -1. Job
applicants are more motivated to perform well on the tests than are current employees
2. Current employees have learned many things on the job that job applicants havent
What is content validation? - Answers -sample of kinds of situations or problems that
may occur on the job (best for small sample sizes)
What are the 2 limitations of content validation? - Answers -1. The person who is hired
must have the knowledge, skills, or abilities at the time he or she is hired.
2. Subjective judgment plays such a large role in content validation.
, What are the 3 processes of validity generalization? - Answers -1. Must prove that the
criterion is a valid predictor for a specific job
2. The job analysis is similar to the job trying to fill and similar to a job elsewhere
3. The test is is similar to that used in another generalized setting
What is utility? - Answers -degree to which the information provided by selection
methods enhances the bottom-line effectiveness of the organization
What is legality? - Answers -all selection methods should conform to existing laws and
existing legal precedents
What is the Civil Rights Act of 1991? - Answers -protects individuals from discrimination
based on race, color, sex, religion with respect to hiring as well as compensation and
working conditions
What is the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967? - Answers -The employer
must show business necessity to those over the age of 40, but is pled guilty is couldnt
(mandatory retirement programs are outlawed through this act)
What is the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990? - Answers -protects individuals
with physical and mental disabilities and requires employers to make reasonable
accommodation to disabled individuals whose handicaps may prevent them from
performing essential functions of the job
What are situational interviews? - Answers -(high predictive validity)
interviewers ask questions dealing with specific situations that are likely to arise on the
job and what the person would likely do in the situation
What are 2 types of situational interview? - Answers -1. Experience based- require
applicant to reveal an experience her or she had in the past to handle the situation
2. Future oriented- how would you handle the situation now
What is a cognitive ability test? - Answers -differentiate individuals based on their
mental rather than physical capacities
What are the 3 types of cognitive ability tests? - Answers -1. Verbal comprehension-
(person's capacity to understand and use written and spoken language)
2. Quantitative ability- speed and accuracy with solving arithmetic problems
3. Reasoning ability- broader concept, person's capacity to invent solutions to problems
What is extroversion? - Answers -sociable, gregarious, assertive, talkative, expressive
What is adjustment? - Answers -emotionally stable, non depressed, secure, content
What is agreeableness? - Answers -courteous, trusting, good-natured, tolerant,
cooperative, forgiving
