Impact of face validity and information about the assessment process on test motivation and performance
- Author
- Eva Derous (UGent) and MP Born
- Organization
- Abstract
- In recent years, test motivation has attracted increasing attention because of its potential impact on test performance and test validity. Most studies have focused on consequences of test motivation. In contrast, the present study provides an examination of situational antecedents of applicants' test motivation. It is examined how explaining the assessment procedure to applicants and using face valid tests, impact upon applicants' test motivation and performance. A field experiment was conducted. Participants were 143 senior-year students, who were participating in an entrance examination for a commercial engineering job at a large national organization. Results revealed that giving ample information about the selection procedure, as well as using face valid tests, both motivate candidates to perform well on a cognitive ability test. Furthermore, test motivation partially mediated the relationship between face validity and test performance. Given that test motivation relates to behavioral outcomes, among which test performance, these results have implications for how recruiters might attempt to influence applicants' reactions towards selection. Besides practical implications, several avenues for further research are discussed in this paper.
- Keywords
- DECISIONS, selection treatment, JOB, FAIRNESS, PERCEPTIONS, SELF-EFFICACY, COGNITIVE-ABILITY, PROCEDURAL JUSTICE, SELECTION PROCEDURES, APPLICANT REACTIONS, TEST-TAKING MOTIVATION, test-taking reactions, test motivation, test performance
Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-995137
- MLA
- Derous, Eva, and MP Born. “Impact of Face Validity and Information about the Assessment Process on Test Motivation and Performance.” TRAVAIL HUMAIN, vol. 68, no. 4, 2005, pp. 317–36.
- APA
- Derous, E., & Born, M. (2005). Impact of face validity and information about the assessment process on test motivation and performance. TRAVAIL HUMAIN, 68(4), 317–336.
- Chicago author-date
- Derous, Eva, and MP Born. 2005. “Impact of Face Validity and Information about the Assessment Process on Test Motivation and Performance.” TRAVAIL HUMAIN 68 (4): 317–36.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Derous, Eva, and MP Born. 2005. “Impact of Face Validity and Information about the Assessment Process on Test Motivation and Performance.” TRAVAIL HUMAIN 68 (4): 317–336.
- Vancouver
- 1.Derous E, Born M. Impact of face validity and information about the assessment process on test motivation and performance. TRAVAIL HUMAIN. 2005;68(4):317–36.
- IEEE
- [1]E. Derous and M. Born, “Impact of face validity and information about the assessment process on test motivation and performance,” TRAVAIL HUMAIN, vol. 68, no. 4, pp. 317–336, 2005.
@article{995137, abstract = {{In recent years, test motivation has attracted increasing attention because of its potential impact on test performance and test validity. Most studies have focused on consequences of test motivation. In contrast, the present study provides an examination of situational antecedents of applicants' test motivation. It is examined how explaining the assessment procedure to applicants and using face valid tests, impact upon applicants' test motivation and performance. A field experiment was conducted. Participants were 143 senior-year students, who were participating in an entrance examination for a commercial engineering job at a large national organization. Results revealed that giving ample information about the selection procedure, as well as using face valid tests, both motivate candidates to perform well on a cognitive ability test. Furthermore, test motivation partially mediated the relationship between face validity and test performance. Given that test motivation relates to behavioral outcomes, among which test performance, these results have implications for how recruiters might attempt to influence applicants' reactions towards selection. Besides practical implications, several avenues for further research are discussed in this paper.}}, author = {{Derous, Eva and Born, MP}}, issn = {{0041-1868}}, journal = {{TRAVAIL HUMAIN}}, keywords = {{DECISIONS,selection treatment,JOB,FAIRNESS,PERCEPTIONS,SELF-EFFICACY,COGNITIVE-ABILITY,PROCEDURAL JUSTICE,SELECTION PROCEDURES,APPLICANT REACTIONS,TEST-TAKING MOTIVATION,test-taking reactions,test motivation,test performance}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{4}}, pages = {{317--336}}, title = {{Impact of face validity and information about the assessment process on test motivation and performance}}, volume = {{68}}, year = {{2005}}, }