De cognitieve interview methode: Bespreking van een alternatieve manier om testbias te onderzoeken

As selection instruments often generate ethnic score differences, creating a diverse work floor constitutes a complex challenge for many organizations. Therefore, in the development of selection instruments it should be aimed for to reduce unfair score differences between ethnic groups as much as possible. This article discusses a method that could help researchers and test developers in reducing ethnic score differences, namely the cognitive interview method. This qualitative method for evaluating questionnaires is already being used in the healthcare sector. In this article, it is argued that this method is useful in the field of personnel selection as well. The cognitive interview method can be used to study whether respondents with different ethnic background interpret items in a similar way

A Triadic Approach to the Construct Validity of the Assessment Center: The Effect of Categorizing Dimensions into a Feeling, Thinking, and Power Taxonomy

This study examined the influence on construct validity of implementing the triad Feeling, Thinking, and Power as a taxonomy for behavioral dimensions in assessment center (AC) exercises. A sample of 1567 job applicants participated in an AC specifically developed according to this taxonomy. Each exercise tapped three dimensions, one dimension from each cluster of the taxonomy. Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the multitrait-multimethod matrix showed evidence for construct validity. Thus, the ratings matched the a priori triadic grouping to a good extent. Practical implications are discussed

Impact of common rater variance on construct validity of assessment center dimension judgements

In an assessment center (AC), assessors generally rate an applicant's performance on multiple dimensions in just 1 exercise. This rating procedure introduces common rater variance within exercises but not between exercises. This article hypothesizes that this phenomenon is partly responsible for the consistently reported result that the AC lacks construct validity. Therefore, in this article, the rater effect is standardized on discriminant and convergent validity via a multitrait-multimethod design in which each matrix cell is based on ratings of different assessors. Two independent studies (N = 200, N = 52) showed that, within exercises, correlations decrease when common rater variance is excluded both across exercises (by having assessors rate only 1 exercise) and within exercises (by having assessors rate only 1 dimension per exercise). Implications are discussed in the context of the recent discussion around the appropriateness of the within-exercise versus the within-dimension evaluation method

Learning environment, interaction, sense of belonging and study success in ethnically diverse student groups

The purpose of this paper was to investigate a model for describing the relationships between the extent to which learning environments are activating and students' interaction with teachers and peers, sense of belonging, and study success. It was tested whether this model holds true for both ethnic minority students and ethnic majority students. A total of 523 students from four different universities completed a questionnaire. Structural equation modeling (Amos) was used to test the model. The model that best describes the relationships in the group of ethnic minority students (N = 145) was shown to be different than the model that best fits the group of majority students (N = 378). Ethnic minority students appeared to feel at home in their educational program if they had a good formal relationship with teachers and fellow students. Ethnic minority students' sense of belonging to the institution nevertheless did not contribute to their study progress. On the other hand, in majority students, informal relationships with fellow students were what led to a sense of belonging. In these students, the sense of belonging did further academic progress

The Transparent Assessment Centre: The Effects of Revealing Dimensions to Candidates

What are the effects of revealing dimensions to candidates in an assessment centre? This question is addressed in two independent studies, using individual exercises. Results in Study 1 showed no difference in construct-related validity between a transparent (N =99) and a non-transparent group of university students (N =50),contrary to previous findings by Kleinmann, Kuptsch, and Köller (1996) and Kleinmann (1997), who used group exercises. Also, mean ratings did not alter, the exception being the dimension 'Sensitivity', which increased slightly after the transparency treatment. Conversely, results in Study 2, which contained a sample of actual job applicants, showed a significant improvement in construct-related validity for the transparent group (N =297) compared with the non-transparent group (N =393). Again, mean ratings did not differ between these two groups. Implications of these findings for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed in this paper

Psychological predictors of cultural diversity support at work

Objectives: As diversity management activities become more prominent worldwide it is important to understand psychological reactions to them to ensure success, but empirical evidence is lacking. This study investigated employees' and managers' intentions and behavior to promote cultural diversity at work in a variety of organizations in the Netherlands, using Ajzen's theory of planned behavior. Method: Predictors of intentions to promote cultural diversity at work (N = 670) and actual behavior after 6 months were assessed among managers and employees using self-reports in a 2-wave survey design. Participants' average age at Time 1 was 38.26 years (SD = 11.86), 56% was female, and there were 78.1% Dutch ethnic majority and 21.9% ethnic minority participants. Results: Attitude to cultural diversity promotion at work and perceived behavioral control (PBC) related positively to both individuals' intentions to promote cultural diversity at work, which in turn predicted behavior. The strongest driver, however, was attitude. Managers' reported PBC and behavior were higher compared to employees. Conclusions: This study supported the applicability of the theory of planned behavior to predict intentions and behavior to promote cultural diversity at work. With an increasingly diverse workforce, this study aimed to advance our understanding of drivers of individual reactions and behavior to support cultural diversity at work

A triadic approach to assessment centre’s construct validity; The effect of categorising dimensions into a feeling, thinking, power taxonomy

This study examined the influence on construct validity of implementing the triad Feeling, Thinking and Power as a taxonomy for behavioural dimensions in assessment centre (AC) exercises. A sample of 1.567 job applicants participated in an AC specifically developed according to this taxonomy. Each exercise tapped three dimensions, one dimension from each cluster of the taxonomy. Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the multitrait-multimethod matrix showed evidence for construct validity. Thus the ratings matched the a priori triadic grouping to a good extent. Practical implications are discussed