Evaluating an Entry-Level Exam
12/01/2005
Law and Order Magazine - December 2005
Selecting the right entry-level examination process is inseparably linked to the identification of the best candidates to hire. Two essential elements should be evaluated in order to identify the best test: first, the technical features of the test, i.e., validity and reliability; second, the non-technical features, i.e., support materials, customer service, and professional qualifications.
Validity is the degree to which a test does what it is supposed to do: predict who will succeed on the job. This prediction is made with a certain degree of accuracy, and that degree of accuracy is the test’s validity. Validity is assessed on a continuum; a test is not simply valid or invalid. You must do better than finding a test that is valid; you must find the test with the highest level of validity possible. To do this, you should focus on two key types of validity evidence, content and criterion-related.