NCJ Number
50115
Date Published
1977
Length
429 pages
Annotation
CONTENT VALIDATION METHODOLOGIES FOR EMPLOYMENT TESTS OF POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATES ARE EXPLAINED AND ANALYZED FOR JOB-RELATEDNESS AND FAIRNESS.
Abstract
FOLLOWING AN EXPLANATION OF VALIDATION METHODOLOGY AND THE REPORT'S BACKGROUND, THE VARIOUS PROCEDURES AND TESTS FOR EMPLOYMENT ARE EVALUATED FOR GOVERNMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, PURPOSE, JOB-RELATEDNESS, TEST SCORING AND INTERPRETATION, TEST BIAS, AND RATING SCALES. THE SEGMENTS ANALYZED ARE JOB ANALYSIS, EXAMINATIONS FOR READING COMPREHENSION, WRITING SKILLS, AND PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE, AND ORAL INTERVIEW. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE GIVEN REGARDING THE PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE EXAMINATION; MODIFICATION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE, NORMATIVE ANALYSIS, COMBINING TEST EVENTS, AND ENSURING EXAMINATION FAIRNESS. THE SECTION ON ORAL INTERVIEWS CONSIDERS THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERVIEW CONTENT AND THE WEIGHTING OF INTERVIEW DIMENSIONS (APPEARANCE AND SITUATIONAL REASONING ABILITY). A DESCRIPTION OF THE INTERVIEWER'S MANUAL IS ALSO PROVIDED. THE FINAL SECTION EXAMINES THE JUSTIFICATION OF TESTING FOR EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS, CONSIDERS THE WEIGHTING OF EXAMINATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS, AND PROVIDES STEPS FOR WEIGHTING TEST SCORES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT A TESTING PROGRAM CONTAIN A SYSTEM OF REVIEW, MODIFICATION, AND IMPROVEMENT TO ASSURE JOB-RELATEDNESS AND FAIRNESS. ACTIVITIES RECOMMENDED INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF ANALYSES FOR RACIAL OR SEXUAL IMPACT, PROPER USE OF EMPLOYMENT PROCEDURES, AND INTERVIEW RELIABILITY. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DATA MIGHT BE DEVELOPED FOR THE PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE EXAMINATION, AND TRAINING IN ADMINISTRATION AND USE OF TESTS MIGHT BE REQUIRED. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN THE TASK, PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS, AND RATING QUESTIONNAIRES, INSTRUCTIONS FOR SELECTING THE NORMATIVE SAMPLE AND FOR FIELD REPORT EXERCISE, AND DEFINITIONS OF POLICE OFFICER FUNCTIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS. (DAG)