This document discusses different types of employee selection tests, including their advantages and disadvantages. The three main factors that determine test quality are criterion validity, content validity, and reliability. Common types of selection tests are cognitive ability tests, personality tests, and interviews. Cognitive ability tests measure general mental ability and have high reliability but can show adverse impact. Personality tests provide more applicant information but responses may be altered and validity is lacking. Interviews allow skills assessment but are subjective and unreliable.

1. Employee Selection

2. Basic Concept of Selection TestsBasic Concept of Selection Tests
The quality of an employee selection test is determined by
three main factors, namely :
1.1. Criterion Validity :Criterion Validity : A type of validity based on showing
that scores on the test (“predictors”) are related to job
performance (“criterion”).
2.2. Content Validity :Content Validity : A test that is “content valid” is one in
which the test contains a fair sample of the tasks and
skills actually needed for the job in question.
3.3. ReliabilityReliability : The consistency of scores obtained by the
same person when retested with identical or equivalent
test.

3. Some Types of Selection TestSome Types of Selection Test
1. Cognitive Ability Test
2. Personality Test
3. Interview

4. Cognitive Ability TestCognitive Ability Test
• Cognitive Abilities Tests: Paper and pencil or
individualized assessment measures of an
individual's general mental ability or intelligence.

5. Advantages of Cognitive Ability TestAdvantages of Cognitive Ability Test
• highly reliable
• verbal reasoning and numerical tests have shown high
validity for a wide range of jobs
• the validity rises with increasing complexity of the job
• may be administered in group settings where many
applicants can be tested at the same time
• scoring of the tests may be completed by computer
scanning equipment
• lower cost than personality tests

6. Disadvantages of Cognitive Ability TestDisadvantages of Cognitive Ability Test
• non-minorities typically score one standard deviation
above minorities which may result in adverse impact
depending on how the scores are used in the selection
process
• differences between males and females in abilities (e.g.,
knowledge of mathematics) may negatively impact the
scores of female applicants

7. Personality TestPersonality Test
• Personality Tests: A selection procedure measure
the personality characteristics of applicants that are
related to future job performance.
• Personality tests typically measure one or more of
five personality dimensions: extroversion,extroversion,
emotional stability, agreeableness,emotional stability, agreeableness,
conscientiousness, and openness to experience.conscientiousness, and openness to experience.

8. Advantages of Personality TestAdvantages of Personality Test
• can result in lower turnover due if applicants are selected
for traits that are highly correlated with employees who
have high longevity within the organization
• can reveal more information about applicant's abilities
and interests
• can identify interpersonal traits that may be needed for
certain jobs

9. Disadvantages of Personality TestDisadvantages of Personality Test
• difficult to measure personality traits that may not be well
defined
• responses by applicant may be altered by applicant's
desire to respond in a way they feel would result in their
selection
• lack of diversity if all selected applicants have same
personality traits
• lack of evidence to support validity of use of personality
tests

10. InterviewInterview
• Interviews: A selection procedure designed to predict
future job performance on the basis of applicants'
oral responses to oral inquiries.

11. Advantages of InterviewAdvantages of Interview
• useful for determining if the applicant has requisite
communicative or social skills which may be necessary for
the job
• can assess the applicant's job knowledge
• can be used for selection among equally qualified
applicants
• enables the supervisor and/or co-workers to determine if
there is compatibility between the applicant and the
employees
• allows the applicant to ask questions that may reveal
additional information useful for making a selection
decision

12. Disadvantages of InterviewDisadvantages of Interview
• subjective evaluations are made
• decisions tend to be made within the first few minutes of
the interview with the remainder of the interview used to
validate or justify the original decision
• interviewers form stereotypes concerning the
characteristics required for success on the job
• research has shown disproportionate rates of selection
between minority and non-minority members using
interviews
• negative information seems to be given more weight
• not as reliable as tests