Question 1

Which of the following best describes the use of reference checks?

Accepted Answer

Reference checks are still a common practice in the hiring process. Some organizations indeed use detailed forms for previous employers to fill out, aiming to gather comprehensive information about a candidate's past performance and behavior. This method helps in making informed hiring decisions.

Question 2

When an organization hires a person who is described as high in predicted success and high in job performance, what do we call that situation?

Accepted Answer

A "hit" occurs when an organization successfully hires an individual who performs well on the job, indicating that the selection process accurately predicted the individual's success.

Question 3

Questions contained in structured job interviews should be based on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Job analysis is the correct answer because it involves identifying and determining in detail the particular job duties and requirements and the relative importance of these duties for a given job. This is crucial for forming the basis of questions in structured job interviews to ensure they are directly related to the skills and experiences the job requires.

Question 4

During her interview for a position as a secretary, Nikki was asked to answer a real phone call from a client. The interviewer used her performance to help with the selection decision. Which of the following types of tests was used in this instance?

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes a work sample test, where the candidate is asked to perform tasks that are part of the job's duties to assess their ability to perform the job effectively.

Question 5

Organization B is using an interview format that requires a panel of three interviewers. The company has found that about half of the time, the interviewers disagree in their ratings such that some members of the panel give the candidate a high rating, while others give the same candidate a low rating. What is the best way to describe the interview format that Organization B is using?

Accepted Answer

The disagreement among interviewers in their ratings indicates inconsistency in the measurement of candidates' abilities or performance, which is a matter of reliability, not validity. Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure, and in this case, the interview format is not producing consistent results across different raters.

Question 6

What type of interview allows the applicant the maximum amount of freedom in determining the course of discussion?

Accepted Answer

A nondirective interview allows the applicant the most freedom in determining the course of the discussion, as it is characterized by open-ended questions and a flexible format.

Question 7

Which of the following is appropriate to ask on an application form?

Accepted Answer

Asking if an applicant is eligible to be bonded is appropriate because it directly relates to their ability to perform certain jobs, especially those involving financial responsibility or security. The other options could be considered discriminatory or violate privacy rights.

Question 8

What type of interview is associated with open-ended questions?

Accepted Answer

Nondirective interviews are characterized by open-ended questions that allow respondents to answer in their own words, providing more depth and insight into their thoughts and feelings.

Question 9

Organization Beta is hiring 20 new staff for front-line positions. The interview the company is using involves giving the applicant hypothetical incidents and asking how he or she would respond. What is this type of interview called?

Accepted Answer

A situational interview involves presenting the applicant with hypothetical situations related to the job and asking how they would handle them. This type of interview assesses the applicant's problem-solving and decision-making skills in potential situations they might encounter on the job.

Question 10

Which of the following types of interviews allows applicants the most freedom in discussing a response to an interview question?

Accepted Answer

A non-directive interview allows applicants the most freedom in discussing a response to an interview question because it involves open-ended questions that let the interviewee guide the conversation.

Question 11

Mary was asked a question in an interview about a hypothetical incident and was asked how she would respond to it. What is this type of interview called?

Accepted Answer

Situational interviews involve asking candidates to describe how they would handle specific job-related situations, testing their problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Question 12

Abel scored high on an ability test used to hire him. He, however, turned out to be a poor employee. Which term refers to this outcome?

Accepted Answer

This outcome is referred to as a "miss" because the test incorrectly predicted Abel's job performance.

Question 13

What do we call the degree to which inferences drawn from interviews, test scores, and other selection procedures are supported by evidence (such as good job performance)?

Accepted Answer

Validity refers to the extent to which a test or selection method measures what it is supposed to measure and can accurately predict outcomes such as job performance.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes credit reports?

Accepted Answer

Organizations are required to inform individuals and obtain their written consent before requesting their credit report. This ensures transparency and protects the individual's privacy rights.

Question 15

What is a key drawback of values-based hiring?

Accepted Answer

Values-based hiring, while beneficial for ensuring cultural fit, can inadvertently lead to a homogenous workforce if not carefully managed, thus reducing diversity. This happens because it may favor candidates who share the same values and potentially similar backgrounds or perspectives as the existing team, rather than bringing in a variety of viewpoints and experiences.

Question 16

Organization Omega is hiring 20 new front-line employees. The company is using an interview that involves three people taking turns asking questions and then pooling their scores of the responses. What is this type of interview called?

Accepted Answer

This type of interview is called a panel interview because it involves multiple interviewers (in this case, three people) taking turns asking questions to the candidate.

Question 17

What is a key reason to ensure that selection procedures are valid?

Accepted Answer

Validity in selection procedures is crucial because it ensures that the methods used accurately assess the candidates' ability to perform the job, which is directly related to employee productivity. Valid selection methods predict job performance, thereby enhancing productivity.

Question 18

The HR manager and the training manager separately interviewed five applicants for a position. They both ended scoring the five of them very similarly. What is this result an example of?

Accepted Answer

High inter-rater reliability indicates that different raters or observers are consistent in their evaluations, which is demonstrated by the HR manager and the training manager scoring the applicants similarly.

Question 19

During an interview, Seema was asked: "Tell me about the last time you helped to train an employee." What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a behavioral description interview question because it asks the interviewee to describe past behavior (in this case, training an employee) as a predictor of future behavior in similar situations.

Question 20

What is a key purpose of "name-blind" resumes?

Accepted Answer

Name-blind resumes are used to help stop unconscious bias in the hiring process by removing any identifying information that could reveal the candidate's gender, ethnicity, or other personal details.

Quiz 6: Employee Selection