{Reason in Science [continued (4)]}[13th September 1989]

[Redbook6:250-253][19890913:0927d]{Reason in Science [continued (4)]}[13th September 1989]

19890913.0927

[continued]

Finally, in the same review,* the old chestnut of staff selection by objective tests against personal interview comes up: the claim being that ‘repeated demonstrations [show] that taking such interviews into account only lowers the predictive value of more objective tests’.* Apart from the quibble that it is not the predictive value of the more objective tests, but that of the whole staff-selection process, which is lowered – I assume that by ‘more objective tests’ is meant written yes/no boxed-answer type qustions with template scoring systems (or the computerised equivalent), and having sat a few of these I am intuitively highly suspicious of them in principle as restrictive and exclusive, rather than creative and inclusive, means of communication. If a blind test could be run comparing the careers of successful applicants for the same type of job accepted under both systems (ie with and without interview) over a long period within the same company and then following the careers of leavers outside it, I should pay attention; but as such tests are so far as I know only used for management and equivalent grades of staff (whether experienced or trainee), it would have to be a very large company.

I once heard a Civil Service admin[istrative]** trainee selector defend their system, which involves objective and other peculiar forms of assessment, on the ground that those who passed tended to go on to do well in the Civil Service whereas those who failed tended not to – which sounded suspiciously like circular reasoning, in the circumstances.

*[The review photocopied into the ms at p250 – see last previous entry but one]

‘Even psychology departments often select students and staff by personal interview despite repeated demonstrations that taking such interviews into account only lowers the predictive value of more objective tests.’

[Perhaps they just wanted to meke sure they had interesting and pleasant people to work with?]

**[The higher grade of the Civil Service, only achievable by these assessment systems]

[continues]

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