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WHY DO ASSESSMENT CENTERS WORK? THE PUZZLE OF ASSESSMENT CENTER VALIDITY
Author(s) -
KLIMOSKI RICHARD,
BRICKNER MARY
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
personnel psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.076
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1744-6570
pISSN - 0031-5826
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-6570.1987.tb00603.x
Subject(s) - assessment center , predictive validity , psychology , construct validity , work (physics) , construct (python library) , variety (cybernetics) , external validity , test validity , center (category theory) , incremental validity , applied psychology , social psychology , psychometrics , clinical psychology , computer science , artificial intelligence , mechanical engineering , chemistry , engineering , crystallography , programming language
The finding that assessment centers are successful in making valid predictions of managerial success is well established in the literature. Unfortunately, it is not clearly understood why assessment centers work. For example, construct validity of assessment center dimensions is rarely obtained. In this paper we affirm the evidence for predictive validity of assessment centers and conclude that assessment centers can work for a variety of purposes and in numerous contexts. But we also assert that we do not know why they work. The bulk of the paper goes on to raise possible explanations for the predictive validity observed in assessment centers and raises implications for practice and guidance of future research.