NCJ Number
212675
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 53 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2005 Pages: 66-69
Date Published
December 2005
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses how to evaluate a police recruit entry-level examination.
Abstract
Choosing the right entry-level examination is one of the key components to choosing the best police recruit candidates. The selection of an entry-level examination should hinge on two elements: (1) the technical features of the test and (2) the non-technical features of the test. Technical features include both validity and reliability. The degree of a test’s validity depends on the degree to which the test correctly predicts who will succeed on the job. The two types of validity, content validity and criterion-related validity, are described as well as how to assess a test’s validity based on its technical report. An entry-level test should also be reliable, which means that it accurately assesses a candidate’s abilities and personality. Evaluating the reliability coefficients of a test is described followed by a discussion of the importance of ongoing research and validation of any test. Finally, the non-technical features of entry-level tests are considered, including test support materials, customer service, and the professional qualifications of the test developers. All of these considerations must be taken into account when selecting an entry-level test, especially since tests can be legally challenged for a variety of reasons that mainly revolve around violations of the Civil Rights Act (1991) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines.