Predictive Validity of an Entry-Level Police Officer Assessment Center

Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol 74, No 5, 1989

3 Pages Posted: 4 Mar 2015 Last revised: 6 Mar 2015

See all articles by Joan E. Pynes

Joan E. Pynes

University of South Florida

H. John Bernardin

Florida Atlantic University

Date Written: 1989

Abstract

Assessment center ratings on 275 police recruits correlated .14 (p < .05) with training academy performance and .20 (p < .05) with on-the-job performance. Lower validity for this assessment center compared with published meta-analytic validities on assessment centers is discussed in the context of several unique study characteristics: the police sample, difficulties in measuring police performance, number of scale points used in the assessment center, and the relatively small number of exercises used in the center. Using the same sample, a composite of two cognitive ability tests correlated .31 and .17 with training performance and job performance, respectively. Strictly on the basis of the obtained validities, results do not support the use of assessment centers for police selection compared with cognitive ability tests.

Keywords: assessment center for police officers, entry-level, predictive validity, selection examination

Suggested Citation

Pynes, Joan E. and Bernardin, H. John, Predictive Validity of an Entry-Level Police Officer Assessment Center (1989). Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol 74, No 5, 1989, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2573124 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2573124

Joan E. Pynes (Contact Author)

University of South Florida ( email )

Tampa, FL 33620
United States

H. John Bernardin

Florida Atlantic University ( email )

Boca Raton, FL 33431
United States
561-297-3640 (Phone)
561-297-2675 (Fax)

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