What does predictive validity assess in a selection test?

What does predictive validity assess in a selection test?

• A. The extent to which a test score predicts future job performance.
• B. The consistency of test results across multiple administrations.
• C. The degree to which a test measures job satisfaction.
• D. The reliability of test scoring across raters.

Answer: (A)

Predictive validity measures how well a selection test forecasts future job performance. You administer the test to applicants, then after they’ve been on the job for a period, you compare their test scores with actual performance data. If higher scores consistently align with higher performance, the test has strong predictive validity. This focuses on future outcomes, unlike reliability (which is about consistency of results over time or across raters) or evaluating a different construct such as job satisfaction.

Predictive validity measures how well a selection test forecasts future job performance. You administer the test to applicants, then after they’ve been on the job for a period, you compare their test scores with actual performance data. If higher scores consistently align with higher performance, the test has strong predictive validity. This focuses on future outcomes, unlike reliability (which is about consistency of results over time or across raters) or evaluating a different construct such as job satisfaction.