Lecturer(s)

dr. T.A.M. Kooij (Coordinator)

dr. J. Tijmstra

No photo available L. Clark

Objectives

1. Students can explain contemporary theories and research findings on the four main predictor and criterion constructs in IAO (intelligence, personality, motives and behavior/job performance). (COMPREHENSION)
2. Students can assess the quality of predictor and criterion measures by applying psychometrics. (APPLY)
3. Students can formulate individual feedback to people who took an assessment procedure. (APPLY)
4. Students can relate selected assessment tools (e.g. selection interviews, situational judgment tests, multisource ratings, assessment centers) to theories on the four main predictor and criterion constructs in IAO (intelligence, personality, motives and behavior/job performance) and to assessment quality indicators (psychometrics). (EVALUATION)
5. Students can comment on ethical aspects in assessment procedures. (EVALUATION)

Contents

Human resource professionals advise about assessments concerning people in organisations. Assessment situations are for example: selection of employees, performance evaluation, and career decisions. Individual assessments are concerned with the measurement of (aspects of) people in order to take decisions concerning people management in organisations. Individual assessments are a necessary HR practice to optimize staffing decisions in organizations.

Often used assessment tools are psychological tests, performance ratings by managers and others, selection interviews, assessment centres. Each tool can be evaluated on theoretical grounds, methodological grounds, and practical use grounds. Theoretically we are interested in constructs that are measured by assessment tools (e.g. intelligence, personality, motives, interests, behavior). Methodological considerations concern the tool's validity, reliability and fairness. The practical use relates to costs and effectiveness (utility) associated with using assessment tools, and the consequences for people who are assessed (law, ethics). 

You will develop both theoretical and practical knowledge in this course. In the lectures, the theory and statistics will be explained. We will use many practical examples to illustrate the practical relevance of theory and statistics. In the workgroups, the theoretical knowledge will be applied to more practical cases. For example, you will learn to interpret and feedback on a personality test profile. Also, you will learn to statistically evaluate the quality of tests in a computer simulation.

Specifics

The course requires a basic understanding of statistics for the social sciences (MTO-B and MTO-C). Exchange students who consider taking this course should be familiar with statistics such as descriptive and inferential statistics and regressions analyses, and be able to use the software package SPSS to perform several statistical data analyses and be able to interpret the output.

Attendence of workgroups and computer practicals is obligatory.

The examination exists of an interim test on test statistics (10%), an open ended written exam (50%) and a portfolio (weekly group assignments) (40%). Students pass the course if their mark on the written exam and the portfolio are 5.0 or higher, AND the weighted overall grade of all three examinations is 5.5 or higher. 

For resit students: Group assignment grades of previous years > 5.0 are still valid. Presence at workgroups and computer practical is not obligatory. 

Compulsory Reading

1. Guion, R. M., & Highhouse, S., Essentials of personnel assessment and selection, Psychology Press, 2011, ISBN 0-8058-5283-2. Details of the text parts that have to be studied are given during the course.
2. Addtional literature, Lecture slides, Handouts, Interpretation guides, Syllabus. To be announced on Blackboard

Recommended Reading

1. Pallant, J., SPSS Survival Guide, Open University Press, Buckingham U.K., 2013 (5th edition)..
2. Hinkle, D. E., Wiersma, W., & Jurs, Applied Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003, ISBN ISBN 0-618-12405-5.

Recommended Prerequisites

Compulsory for

• Bachelor Human Resource Studies ( 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 )
• Minor Human Resource Studies ( 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 )

Recommended option for

• Minor Human Resource Studies ( 2012, 2013 )