Skip to main content
Article
A Field Study of Frame-of-Reference Effects on Personality Test Validity
Journal of Applied Psychology (2003)
  • Talya N. Bauer, Portland State University
  • John N. Hunthausen, Portland State University
Abstract

As part of a test validation study at a major U.S.-based airline, the authors tested the effects of providing an “at work” frame-of-reference on the validity of the NEO Five-Factor Inventory among a sample of customer service supervisors (N =206). Frame-of-reference moderated the validity of the Extraversion and Openness to Experience subscales after controlling for cognitive ability. In addition, the frame-of- reference personality test showed incremental validity over cognitive ability (delta = R.16), but the standard personality test did not (delta = R.05). The authors’ discussion focuses on implications for personality theory and research and on implications for increasing the validity of personality tests in organizational settings.

Disciplines
Publication Date
2003
Publisher Statement
Copyright 2003 by the American Psychological Association, Inc
Citation Information
Talya N. Bauer and John N. Hunthausen. "A Field Study of Frame-of-Reference Effects on Personality Test Validity" Journal of Applied Psychology Vol. 88 Iss. 3 (2003)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/talya_bauer/10/