RESPONSE SET SCORES AS PREDICTORS OF PERFORMANCE,
Abstract
A Work Preference Schedule (WPS), containing items concerned with preferences for a variety of job attributes, was administered to Federal Government employees in connection with routine personnel procedures. Answer sheets were obtained an4 rescored to yield scores which would presumably reflect social desirability and extremity response sets. Statistical study of the scores showed that response sets could be reliably measured and that attractive and unattractive items should be studied separately. Correlations of set scores with biographical data and with scores from inventories and tests were computed, including scores from a situational test, the Bureau of Business In-Basket Test. It was judged that the only correlations that were capable of reasonably unambiguous interpretation were those between in-basket scores and desirability set scores obtained from unattractive items. The results show that those who try to put themselves in a good light in responding to the WPS are likely to follow leads suggested by their superior in the in-basket situation and to show generally god performance both in terms of quantity and quality. Some underlying motivational variable such as anxiety or need for recognition may account for both the desirability response bias and the characteristics of the in-basket performance. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0426464
Entities
People
- Norman Frederiksen
Organizations
- Educational Testing Service