Neuroscience
Increasingly, employers in the UK are using cognitive ability tests to help them recruit the best candidates. Now Cristina Bertua and colleagues have performed the first ever meta-analysis of UK research looking at how accurately these tests predict candidate employees’ subsequent work and training performance once they’ve got the job. Meta-analysis is a technique used for combining the results of multiple studies.
From a search of the literature dating from the 1950s, Bertua’s team found 56 individual papers and books containing relevant data. This amounted to 283 independent samples comparing 13,262 people’s scores on different cognitive tests with their later job performance, and 223 independent samples comparing 75,311 people’s test scores with their later success at job training.
In conclusion, the researchers advised: “Selection practitioners and HR professionals in UK organisations should be encouraged to use psychometrically developed cognitive ability tests regardless of job type, hierarchical seniority, potential future changes in job role composition, or whether the tests are principally for general or specific cognitive abilities”.
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Bertua, C., Anderson, N. & Salgado, J.F. (2005). The predictive validity of cognitive ability tests: a UK meta-analysis. Journal of Occupational and Organisational Psychology, In Press. DOI: 10.11348/096317905X26994.
Post written by Christian Jarrett (@psych_writer) for the BPS Research Digest.
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Neuroscience
Tests on test
Increasingly, employers in the UK are using cognitive ability tests to help them recruit the best candidates. Now Cristina Bertua and colleagues have performed the first ever meta-analysis of UK research looking at how accurately these tests predict candidate employees’ subsequent work and training performance once they’ve got the job. Meta-analysis is a technique used for combining the results of multiple studies.
From a search of the literature dating from the 1950s, Bertua’s team found 56 individual papers and books containing relevant data. This amounted to 283 independent samples comparing 13,262 people’s scores on different cognitive tests with their later job performance, and 223 independent samples comparing 75,311 people’s test scores with their later success at job training.
"...HR professionals in UK organisations should be encouraged to use psychometrically developed cognitive ability tests..."
The researchers found cognitive tests strongly predicted employees’ work and training performance, across all different job types investigated: clerical, engineer, professional, driver, operator, manager and sales. Both general mental ability tests and more specific tests (e.g. perceptual tests) predicted job performance. There was a tendency for the tests to be stronger predictors of performance for more complex jobs. The authors said: “Practitioners may believe, and indeed may have experienced, that such tests are less popular for senior appointments due to a misbelieve that they lack job-related validity; the results of our meta-analysis on a large sample of UK occupational groups strongly refutes this erroneous belief”.In conclusion, the researchers advised: “Selection practitioners and HR professionals in UK organisations should be encouraged to use psychometrically developed cognitive ability tests regardless of job type, hierarchical seniority, potential future changes in job role composition, or whether the tests are principally for general or specific cognitive abilities”.
__________________________________
Bertua, C., Anderson, N. & Salgado, J.F. (2005). The predictive validity of cognitive ability tests: a UK meta-analysis. Journal of Occupational and Organisational Psychology, In Press. DOI: 10.11348/096317905X26994.
Post written by Christian Jarrett (@psych_writer) for the BPS Research Digest.
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Past research looking at mental faculties and work ability has taken the approach you’d expect – participants are asked to complete tests of memory, language, attention and so on, and their performance on those measures is then compared with how well...
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Computerized Cognitive Testing
The relationship between computer experience and computerized cognitive test performance among older adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2013, 68(3), 337-346 Fazeli PL, Ross LA, Vance DE, & Ball KAbstractOBJECTIVE: This study compared the relationship...
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Pediatric Epilepsy And Memory Assessment
Everyday verbal memory and pediatric epilepsy Epilepsy and Behavior. 2011 Jul; 21(3): 285-290. Chapieski L, Evankovich K, Hiscock M, Collins R Abstract This study addressed the reliability and validity of reports of everyday verbal memory with a sample...
- Abstract Of The Day: Virtual Sims For Cognitive (memory) Tasks - Neuropsychology On The Street
Titov N, Knight RG. A computer-based procedure for assessing functional cognitive skills in patients with neurological injuries: The virtual street. Brain Injury. 2005 May; 19(5): 315-322. University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:...
- Abstract Of The Day: Neuropsychological Assessment
Au R, Seshadri S, Wolf P, Elias M, Elias P, Sullivan L, Beiser A, D'Agostino R. New norms for a new generation: Cognitive performance in the Framingham Offspring Cohort. Exp Aging Res. 2004 Oct-Dec; 30(4): 333-58. Department of Neurology, Boston...