Multiple Choice Questions
1. The strength of the relationship between a predictor and performance is called ________.
A. reliability
B. validity
C. utility
D. instrumentality
2. Most initial assessment methods have _________ validity.
A. moderate to low
B. high to very high
C. moderately high to high
D. moderate
3. Which of the following statements regarding the development of a selection plan is false?
A. The list of KSAOs used in the selection plan are derived from the job requirements matrix
B. The process of developing a selection plan is usually straightforward and can be done quickly
C. One reason KSAOs may be deemed unimportant for selection is because they will be learned on the job
D. Possible methods for assessing every identified job-relevant KSAO need to be developed
4. Which of the following is(are) initial assessment methods?
A. Résumés and cover letters
B. Application blanks
C. Biographical information
D. All of the above
5. Which of the following are common sources of résumé fraud?
A. inflated titles
B. inflated education or "purchased" degrees
C. inaccurate dates to cover up job hopping or unemployment
D. all of the above
6. Which of the following statements regarding résumés is true?
A. Even background checks cannot reduce the problem of résumé fraud
B. Most surveys suggest that around half of all résumés have substantial inaccuracies or distortions
C. Video résumés are highly respected by most employers
D. Extensive evidence suggests that résumés are highly accurate predictors of employee job performance
7. In using educational level as an initial selection criterion, which of the following statements is false?
A. The degree received from an institution is not sufficient as a sole indicator of an applicant's level of education.
B. A GED is a high school equivalency degree and is about as good as a conventional high school diploma in predicting job performance.
C. Educational level is a predictor of job performance.
D. High-level degrees from non-accredited schools may be indicators of lesser accomplishment than lower-level degrees from accredited schools.
8. Which of the following statements regarding the use of grade point averages as a predictor is true?
A. GPA may be influenced by many factors in addition to the applicant's KSAOs and motivation.
B. GPAs in one's major tend to be highly similar to one's GPAs in other classes.
C. Grades do not vary widely by field.
D. GPAs from different schools mean the same thing.
9. When considering the use of extracurricular activities as a job performance predictor, one should _________.
A. use extracurricular activities whenever possible
B. de-emphasize the use of extracurricular activities
C. use extracurricular activities mainly for selection of managerial personnel
D. use extracurricular activities when they correlate with KSAOs required by the job
10 Asking applicants to complete a supplemental application in which they describe their most significant accomplishments relative to a list of job behaviors is known as the _______.
A. behavioral consistency method
B. experiential summary method
C. biodata approach
D. none of the above
11. The highest estimate of validity coefficients of unweighted applicant banks as predictors of job performance are _________.
A. 1.00
B. .80
C. .20
D. .60
E. .40
12. Research on application blanks has suggested that the most common questions that are misinterpreted include _________.
A. previous employers
B. reasons for leaving previous jobs
C. previous positions held
D. all of the above are true
13. The principal assumption behind the use of biodata is the axiom, ________.
A. The best predictor of future behavior is motivation level
B. The best predictor of future behavior is KSAOs
C. The best predictor of future behavior is education level
D. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior
14. Which of the following is true regarding biodata and background tests?
A. Background information is obtained through interviews and conversations with references.
B. They are two different names for the same thing.
C. Only background tests look into an applicant's past.
D. Biodata is used primarily when screening applicants for positions in which integrity and emotional adjustment are necessary.
15. Biographical information is like application blanks, except _______.
A. biographical information is based on history, but application blanks are based on current events
B. application blanks are more likely to be used for substantive selection decisions
C. biographical data is more likely to be accepted by applicants
D. biographical data can be more fruitfully used for substantive selection decisions
16. Which of the following is a criterion on which biodata items can be classified?
A. historical vs. nonverifiable
B. invasive vs. firsthand
C. objective vs. subjective
D. equal access vs. easy access
17. The problem with using _____ for hiring purposes is that only very poor applicants cannot obtain these, and the format is unstandardized.
A. certifications
B. biodata forms
C. letters of recommendation
D. MBAs
18. The information collected for an accomplishments record includes ______.
A. a written statement of the accomplishment
B. when the accomplishment took place
C. any recognition for the accomplishment
D. all of the above
19. Which of the following methods is the most valid predictor of performance?
A. Initial interviews
B. Handwriting analysis
C. Biodata
D. Unweighted application blanks
20. Research has indicated that job applicants generally have a __________ view of biodata inventories.
A. very positive
B. negative
C. positive
D. neutral