A survey of the assessment center process in the public sector

Public Personnel Management

Volumn 25, Issue 3, 1996, Pages 307-321

  Lowry, Phillip E ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0030304047     PISSN: 00910260     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/009102609602500304     Document Type: Review

References (41)

1. Samuel J. Yeager, "Use of Assessment Centers by Metropolitan Fire Departments in North America," Public Personnel Management 15 Spring (1986): 51-64.
2. Louise F. Fitzgerald and Marilyn K. Quaintance, "Survey of Assessment Center use in State and Local Government," Journal of Assessment Center Technology 5 (1982): 9-21.
3. Ibid., 10.
4. Yeager, "Use of Assessment Centers," Public Personnel Management 15 (1986): 53.
5. Ivan Robertson, Lynda Gratton and David Sharpley, "The Psychometric Properties and Design of Managerial Assessment Centres: Dimensions into Exercises Won't Go," Journal of Occupational Psychology 60 (1987): 187-195.
6. Rosalie C. Ruane, ed., Municipal Executive Directory (Washington, DC: Carrol Publishing Company, 1993).
7. International Personnel Management Association, Who's Who in the International Personnel Management Association (Arlington, VA: International Personnel Management Association, 1992).
8. These percentages, and all those used in this paper are rounded. Therefore they may not always total 100%.
9. "Selection" in this study means the entire range of actions used to choose persons for hire, promotion, etc.
10. Yeager, "Use of Assessment Centers," Public Personnel Management 15 (1986): 53; Fitzgerald and Quaintance, "Survey of Assessment Center use," Journal of Assessment Center Technology 5 (1982):10. Yeager reported 44% of metropolitan fire departments used the assessment center; Fitzgerald and Quaintance reported 44% of police and fire departments used the assessment center.
11. Yeager, "Use of Assessment Centers," Public Personnel Management 15 (1986): 53; Fitzgerald and Quaintance, "Survey of Assessment Center use," Journal of Assessment Center Technology 5 (1982):10. Yeager reported 44% of metropolitan fire departments used the assessment center; Fitzgerald and Quaintance reported 44% of police and fire departments used the assessment center.
12. For example, authors who have questioned the validity include: Rob Feltham, "Validity of a Police Assessment Centre: A1-19 Year Follow-up," Journal of Occupational Psychology 61 (1988): 129-144; George F. Dreher and Paul R. Sackett, "Some Problems with Applying Content Validity Evidence to Assessment Center Procedures," Academy of Management Review 6 (1981): 551-560; and Paul R. Sackett, "Assessment Centers and Content Validity: Some Neglected Issues," Personnel Psychology 40 (1987): 13-25. Authors who report a positive relationship between assessment center scores and performance include: Glen M. McEvoy and Richard W. Beatty, "Assessment Centers and Subordinate Appraisals of Managers: A Seven Year Examination of Predictive Validity," Personnel Psychology 42 (1989): 37-57; Barbara B. Gaugler, Douglas B. Rosenthal, George C. Thornton III, and Cynthia Bentson, "Meta-analysis of Assessment enter Validity," Journal of Applied Psychology 72 (1989: 493-511; Richard Klimoski and Mary Brickner, "Why do Assessment Centers Work? The Puzzle of Assessment Center Validity," Personnel Psychology 40 (1987): 243-268; and George C. Thornton, Assessment Centers in Human Resource Management (Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1992).
13. For example, authors who have questioned the validity include: Rob Feltham, "Validity of a Police Assessment Centre: A1-19 Year Follow-up," Journal of Occupational Psychology 61 (1988): 129-144; George F. Dreher and Paul R. Sackett, "Some Problems with Applying Content Validity Evidence to Assessment Center Procedures," Academy of Management Review 6 (1981): 551-560; and Paul R. Sackett, "Assessment Centers and Content Validity: Some Neglected Issues," Personnel Psychology 40 (1987): 13-25. Authors who report a positive relationship between assessment center scores and performance include: Glen M. McEvoy and Richard W. Beatty, "Assessment Centers and Subordinate Appraisals of Managers: A Seven Year Examination of Predictive Validity," Personnel Psychology 42 (1989): 37-57; Barbara B. Gaugler, Douglas B. Rosenthal, George C. Thornton III, and Cynthia Bentson, "Meta-analysis of Assessment enter Validity," Journal of Applied Psychology 72 (1989: 493-511; Richard Klimoski and Mary Brickner, "Why do Assessment Centers Work? The Puzzle of Assessment Center Validity," Personnel Psychology 40 (1987): 243-268; and George C. Thornton, Assessment Centers in Human Resource Management (Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1992).
14. For example, authors who have questioned the validity include: Rob Feltham, "Validity of a Police Assessment Centre: A1-19 Year Follow-up," Journal of Occupational Psychology 61 (1988): 129-144; George F. Dreher and Paul R. Sackett, "Some Problems with Applying Content Validity Evidence to Assessment Center Procedures," Academy of Management Review 6 (1981): 551-560; and Paul R. Sackett, "Assessment Centers and Content Validity: Some Neglected Issues," Personnel Psychology 40 (1987): 13-25. Authors who report a positive relationship between assessment center scores and performance include: Glen M. McEvoy and Richard W. Beatty, "Assessment Centers and Subordinate Appraisals of Managers: A Seven Year Examination of Predictive Validity," Personnel Psychology 42 (1989): 37-57; Barbara B. Gaugler, Douglas B. Rosenthal, George C. Thornton III, and Cynthia Bentson, "Meta-analysis of Assessment enter Validity," Journal of Applied Psychology 72 (1989: 493-511; Richard Klimoski and Mary Brickner, "Why do Assessment Centers Work? The Puzzle of Assessment Center Validity," Personnel Psychology 40 (1987): 243-268; and George C. Thornton, Assessment Centers in Human Resource Management (Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1992).
15. For example, authors who have questioned the validity include: Rob Feltham, "Validity of a Police Assessment Centre: A1-19 Year Follow-up," Journal of Occupational Psychology 61 (1988): 129-144; George F. Dreher and Paul R. Sackett, "Some Problems with Applying Content Validity Evidence to Assessment Center Procedures," Academy of Management Review 6 (1981): 551-560; and Paul R. Sackett, "Assessment Centers and Content Validity: Some Neglected Issues," Personnel Psychology 40 (1987): 13-25. Authors who report a positive relationship between assessment center scores and performance include: Glen M. McEvoy and Richard W. Beatty, "Assessment Centers and Subordinate Appraisals of Managers: A Seven Year Examination of Predictive Validity," Personnel Psychology 42 (1989): 37-57; Barbara B. Gaugler, Douglas B. Rosenthal, George C. Thornton III, and Cynthia Bentson, "Meta-analysis of Assessment enter Validity," Journal of Applied Psychology 72 (1989: 493-511; Richard Klimoski and Mary Brickner, "Why do Assessment Centers Work? The Puzzle of Assessment Center Validity," Personnel Psychology 40 (1987): 243-268; and George C. Thornton, Assessment Centers in Human Resource Management (Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1992).
16. For example, authors who have questioned the validity include: Rob Feltham, "Validity of a Police Assessment Centre: A1-19 Year Follow-up," Journal of Occupational Psychology 61 (1988): 129-144; George F. Dreher and Paul R. Sackett, "Some Problems with Applying Content Validity Evidence to Assessment Center Procedures," Academy of Management Review 6 (1981): 551-560; and Paul R. Sackett, "Assessment Centers and Content Validity: Some Neglected Issues," Personnel Psychology 40 (1987): 13-25. Authors who report a positive relationship between assessment center scores and performance include: Glen M. McEvoy and Richard W. Beatty, "Assessment Centers and Subordinate Appraisals of Managers: A Seven Year Examination of Predictive Validity," Personnel Psychology 42 (1989): 37-57; Barbara B. Gaugler, Douglas B. Rosenthal, George C. Thornton III, and Cynthia Bentson, "Meta-analysis of Assessment enter Validity," Journal of Applied Psychology 72 (1989: 493-511; Richard Klimoski and Mary Brickner, "Why do Assessment Centers Work? The Puzzle of Assessment Center Validity," Personnel Psychology 40 (1987): 243-268; and George C. Thornton, Assessment Centers in Human Resource Management (Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1992).
17. For example, authors who have questioned the validity include: Rob Feltham, "Validity of a Police Assessment Centre: A1-19 Year Follow-up," Journal of Occupational Psychology 61 (1988): 129-144; George F. Dreher and Paul R. Sackett, "Some Problems with Applying Content Validity Evidence to Assessment Center Procedures," Academy of Management Review 6 (1981): 551-560; and Paul R. Sackett, "Assessment Centers and Content Validity: Some Neglected Issues," Personnel Psychology 40 (1987): 13-25. Authors who report a positive relationship between assessment center scores and performance include: Glen M. McEvoy and Richard W. Beatty, "Assessment Centers and Subordinate Appraisals of Managers: A Seven Year Examination of Predictive Validity," Personnel Psychology 42 (1989): 37-57; Barbara B. Gaugler, Douglas B. Rosenthal, George C. Thornton III, and Cynthia Bentson, "Meta-analysis of Assessment enter Validity," Journal of Applied Psychology 72 (1989: 493-511; Richard Klimoski and Mary Brickner, "Why do Assessment Centers Work? The Puzzle of Assessment Center Validity," Personnel Psychology 40 (1987): 243-268; and George C. Thornton, Assessment Centers in Human Resource Management (Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1992).
18. For example, authors who have questioned the validity include: Rob Feltham, "Validity of a Police Assessment Centre: A1-19 Year Follow-up," Journal of Occupational Psychology 61 (1988): 129-144; George F. Dreher and Paul R. Sackett, "Some Problems with Applying Content Validity Evidence to Assessment Center Procedures," Academy of Management Review 6 (1981): 551-560; and Paul R. Sackett, "Assessment Centers and Content Validity: Some Neglected Issues," Personnel Psychology 40 (1987): 13-25. Authors who report a positive relationship between assessment center scores and performance include: Glen M. McEvoy and Richard W. Beatty, "Assessment Centers and Subordinate Appraisals of Managers: A Seven Year Examination of Predictive Validity," Personnel Psychology 42 (1989): 37-57; Barbara B. Gaugler, Douglas B. Rosenthal, George C. Thornton III, and Cynthia Bentson, "Meta-analysis of Assessment enter Validity," Journal of Applied Psychology 72 (1989: 493-511; Richard Klimoski and Mary Brickner, "Why do Assessment Centers Work? The Puzzle of Assessment Center Validity," Personnel Psychology 40 (1987): 243-268; and George C. Thornton, Assessment Centers in Human Resource Management (Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1992).
19. Phillip E. Lowry, "The Assessment Center: An Examination of the Effects of Assessor Characteristics on Assessor Scores," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Fall 1993): 487-501; Idem, "The Assessment Center: Effects of Varying Consensus Procedures," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Summer, 1992): 171-184; Idem, "The Assessment Center Pooling Scores or Arithmetic Decision Rule," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 17, No. 1 (Spring, 1988): 63-71; Idem, "The Assessment Center: Reducing Interassessor Influence," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Spring, 1991): 19-26; Idem, "Selection Methods: Comparison of Assessment Centers with Personnel Records Evaluations." Public Personnel management (in press); Idem, "The Structured Interview: An Alternative to the Assessment Center?" Public Personnel Management, Vol. 23., No. 2, (Summer, 1994):201-215.
20. Phillip E. Lowry, "The Assessment Center: An Examination of the Effects of Assessor Characteristics on Assessor Scores," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Fall 1993): 487-501; Idem, "The Assessment Center: Effects of Varying Consensus Procedures," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Summer, 1992): 171-184; Idem, "The Assessment Center Pooling Scores or Arithmetic Decision Rule," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 17, No. 1 (Spring, 1988): 63-71; Idem, "The Assessment Center: Reducing Interassessor Influence," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Spring, 1991): 19-26; Idem, "Selection Methods: Comparison of Assessment Centers with Personnel Records Evaluations." Public Personnel management (in press); Idem, "The Structured Interview: An Alternative to the Assessment Center?" Public Personnel Management, Vol. 23., No. 2, (Summer, 1994):201-215.
21. Phillip E. Lowry, "The Assessment Center: An Examination of the Effects of Assessor Characteristics on Assessor Scores," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Fall 1993): 487-501; Idem, "The Assessment Center: Effects of Varying Consensus Procedures," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Summer, 1992): 171-184; Idem, "The Assessment Center Pooling Scores or Arithmetic Decision Rule," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 17, No. 1 (Spring, 1988): 63-71; Idem, "The Assessment Center: Reducing Interassessor Influence," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Spring, 1991): 19-26; Idem, "Selection Methods: Comparison of Assessment Centers with Personnel Records Evaluations." Public Personnel management (in press); Idem, "The Structured Interview: An Alternative to the Assessment Center?" Public Personnel Management, Vol. 23., No. 2, (Summer, 1994):201-215.
22. Phillip E. Lowry, "The Assessment Center: An Examination of the Effects of Assessor Characteristics on Assessor Scores," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Fall 1993): 487-501; Idem, "The Assessment Center: Effects of Varying Consensus Procedures," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Summer, 1992): 171-184; Idem, "The Assessment Center Pooling Scores or Arithmetic Decision Rule," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 17, No. 1 (Spring, 1988): 63-71; Idem, "The Assessment Center: Reducing Interassessor Influence," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Spring, 1991): 19-26; Idem, "Selection Methods: Comparison of Assessment Centers with Personnel Records Evaluations." Public Personnel management (in press); Idem, "The Structured Interview: An Alternative to the Assessment Center?" Public Personnel Management, Vol. 23., No. 2, (Summer, 1994):201-215.
23. Phillip E. Lowry, "The Assessment Center: An Examination of the Effects of Assessor Characteristics on Assessor Scores," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Fall 1993): 487-501; Idem, "The Assessment Center: Effects of Varying Consensus Procedures," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Summer, 1992): 171-184; Idem, "The Assessment Center Pooling Scores or Arithmetic Decision Rule," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 17, No. 1 (Spring, 1988): 63-71; Idem, "The Assessment Center: Reducing Interassessor Influence," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Spring, 1991): 19-26; Idem, "Selection Methods: Comparison of Assessment Centers with Personnel Records Evaluations." Public Personnel management (in press); Idem, "The Structured Interview: An Alternative to the Assessment Center?" Public Personnel Management, Vol. 23., No. 2, (Summer, 1994):201-215.
24. Phillip E. Lowry, "The Assessment Center: An Examination of the Effects of Assessor Characteristics on Assessor Scores," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Fall 1993): 487-501; Idem, "The Assessment Center: Effects of Varying Consensus Procedures," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Summer, 1992): 171-184; Idem, "The Assessment Center Pooling Scores or Arithmetic Decision Rule," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 17, No. 1 (Spring, 1988): 63-71; Idem, "The Assessment Center: Reducing Interassessor Influence," Public Personnel Management, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Spring, 1991): 19-26; Idem, "Selection Methods: Comparison of Assessment Centers with Personnel Records Evaluations." Public Personnel management (in press); Idem, "The Structured Interview: An Alternative to the Assessment Center?" Public Personnel Management, Vol. 23., No. 2, (Summer, 1994):201-215.
25. Fitzgerald and Quaintance had 63 respondents; Yeager had 73.
26. Fitzgerald and Quaintance, "Survey of Assessment Center use," Journal of Assessment Center Technology 5 (1982):18.
27. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Civil Service Commission, Department of Labor, & Department of Justice, Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures, 29 CFR 1607 et seq (1979), and Task Force on Assessment Center Guidelines, "Guidelines and Ethical Considerations for Assessment Center Operations," Public Personnel Administration 18 (1989): 457-70.
28. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Civil Service Commission, Department of Labor, & Department of Justice, Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures, 29 CFR 1607 et seq (1979), and Task Force on Assessment Center Guidelines, "Guidelines and Ethical Considerations for Assessment Center Operations," Public Personnel Administration 18 (1989): 457-70.
29. Douglas W. Bray, R. J. Campbell, & D. L. Grant. Formative Years in Business: A Long-Term Study of Managerial Lives. New York: Wiley, 1974.
30. Phillip E. Lowry, "The Assessment Center Process: Assessing Leadership in the Public Sector," Public Personnel Management (in press).
31. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, The Civil Service Commission, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Justice, Uniform Guidelines on Employment Selection Procedures, 29 CFR 1607et seq (1979), Section C[1]).
32. Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Inc., Principles for the Validation and Use of Personnel Selection Procedures, 3d ed., (College Park, MD: Author, 1987), 26.
33. Paul R. Sackett and George F. Dreher, "Constructs and Assessment Center Dimensions: Some Troubling Empirical Findings," Journal of Applied Psychology 67 (1982): 409.
34. Ted H. Shore, George C. Thornton, III, and L. McFarlane Shore, "Construct Validity of Two Categories of Assessment Center Dimension Ratings," Personnel Psychology 43 (1990): 104.
35. Lowry, "Assessing Leadership."
36. Lowry, "Effects of Varying Consensus Procedures," 171-184
37. Fitzgerald and Quaintance, "Survey of Assessment Center use," Journal of Assessment Center Technology 5 (1982): 18.
38. Lowry, "Examination of the Effects of Assessor Characteristics," 487-501
39. Ibid
40. Paul D. Kaiser and Harry Brull, "New Stuff in I/O (In-Baskets and Orals)," a paper presented at the International Personnel Management Association Assessment Council Conference, Charleston, South Carolina, June 29, 1994.
41. Fitzgerald and Quaintance, "Survey of Assessment Center use," Journal of Assessment Center Technology 5 (1982):19.