College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

Spring 6-14-2019

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Alice Stuhlmacher, PhD

Second Advisor

Goran Kuljanin, PhD

Third Advisor

Kimberly Quinn, PhD

Abstract

The use of valid selection tests enables organizations to better select employees who have the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics that are necessary for success. While cognitive ability tests are one of the best predictors of performance, they have well-known limitations. Specifically, they can result in adverse impact, and there is clear evidence of retest effects. The use of personality tests, when included in a selection battery, can ameliorate adverse impact and can provide incremental validity. Personality tests, however, also have limitations. Namely, they can be faked, the construct can be measured in various ways (i.e., there are myriad constructs, many of which can be measured at a trait level and a facet level), and there are numerous moderators of the personality–performance relationship. This lab study investigated the facet-level conscientiousness–performance relationship, explored evidence regarding practice effects in personality tests, examined whether situational strength moderated the personality–performance relationship, and looked at the form of the relationship between personality and performance. A unique contribution of this study is that performance was operationalized by using an in-basket that assessed four different dimensions of performance. In general, the hypotheses were not supported, underscoring the need for future research.

SLP Collection

no

Download

Share

COinS