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Psychological Test Validity for Selecting Law Enforcement Officers

NCJ Number
126772
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 17 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1990) Pages: 289-294
Author(s)
J I McQuilken; V L Russell; A G Frost; W R Faust
Date Published
1990
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This research investigates the validity of five psychological tests for selecting law enforcement officers.
Abstract
Two of the tests were personality tests, two measured interpersonal relations, and one measured aptitudes. The 144 subjects were all police officers in a southeastern city law enforcement agency who had been hired between January 1980 and December 1985. None of the tests accurately predicted attendance habits. The personality tests included the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS) and Million Multiaxial Clinical Inventory. Sociability and belief systems were measured by the Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation -- Behavior (FIRO-B) and the Test of Social Insight (TS). The personality and sociability tests were found to be predictive of job performance, particularly when job performance measures were specific and grouped by employment period. The aptitude test, Wilson Drivers Selection Test (WDST), was important for measuring driving efficiency. 3 tables and 19 references

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