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Incremental Validity of Assessment Center Ratings Over Cognitive Ability Tests: A Study at the Executive Management Level
Author(s) -
Krause Diana E.,
Kersting Martin,
Heggestad Eric D.,
Thornton George C.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international journal of selection and assessment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.812
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1468-2389
pISSN - 0965-075X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2389.2006.00357.x
Subject(s) - psychology , promotion (chess) , cognition , test (biology) , predictive validity , assessment center , context (archaeology) , applied psychology , set (abstract data type) , executive functions , german , cognitive psychology , clinical psychology , computer science , paleontology , history , archaeology , neuroscience , politics , political science , law , biology , programming language
Both tests of cognitive ability and assessment center (AC) ratings of various performance attributes have proven useful in personnel selection and promotion contexts. To be of theoretical or practical value, however, the AC method must show incremental predictive accuracy over cognitive ability tests given the cost disparities between the two predictors. In the present study, we investigated this issue in the context of promotion of managers in German police departments into a training academy for high‐level executive positions. Candidates completed a set of cognitive ability tests and a 2‐day AC. The criterion measure was the final grade at the police academy. Results indicated that AC ratings of managerial abilities were important predictors of training success, even after accounting for cognitive ability test scores. These results confirm that AC ratings provide unique contribution to the understanding and prediction of training performance of high‐level executive positions beyond cognitive ability tests.