Content validity of minimum qualifications: Does it reduce adverse impact?

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Minimum qualifications screens are used by many organizations, however, the sophistication level of these minimum qualifications varies. This study investigated the use of a new, content valid minimum qualification development methodology and its influence on adverse impact for 1955 applications for 12 different jobs. Applications for the 12 jobs were reviewed using content valid minimum qualifications in the spring of 2004 and those applicants who met the minimum qualifications were invited for subsequent testing. For this study these same applications were reviewed using the traditional minimum qualifications of educational attainment and years of experience.
The results indicated that the content valid minimum qualifications screen reduced adverse impact and increased pass ratios for both race and gender. In addition, a significant mean difference for unit weighted z-scores was found between applicants who passed only the content valid minimum qualifications and those that passed both the content valid and traditional minimum qualifications. The results indicated that applicants who passed both minimum qualifications scored higher on the subsequent selection tests than applicants who only passed the content valid minimum qualifications.
This study investigated the effect content valid minimum qualifications had on the adverse impact of the overall selection system (i.e., bottom-line). Results indicated that although content valid minimum qualifications do increase pass ratios of minorities, it does not increase adverse impact at the bottom-line. In addition, variables such as job family and recruitment methods were considered.
A survey assessing characteristics of the minimum qualifications was administered to 20 experienced job analysts and found that the content valid minimum qualifications are better at identifying the barely qualified applicant than the traditional minimum qualifications. Results also indicated that the content valid minimum qualifications are more flexible whereas the traditional minimum qualifications are easier to verify. Implications and suggestions for future research are presented.