Journal article
Using pre-test explanations to improve test-taker reactions: Testing a set of "wise" interventions
Organizational behavior and human decision processes, Vol.141, pp.43-56
07/01/2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2017.04.002
Abstract
The present research tested a set of "wise" interventions (Walton, 2014) designed to improve employee reactions to assessment tests. Drawing upon theories of test-taking reactions, fairness, and social exchange, we generated and pilot-test edpre-test explanations to facilitate positive reactions to the assessments. Across two experimental studies of working adults, we tested a control condition and four experimental groups: (1) an informational fairness condition, (2) a social fairness condition, (3) an uncertainty reduction condition, and (4) a combined condition. In the first study, 256 retail employees were randomly assigned to one of the pre-test explanation conditions before completing a work sample test. Findings indicated higher perceptions of fairness for test-takers in the combined explanation group. In addition, the effects of the test explanations depended upon two contextual variables: test-takers' level of perceived organizational support and the quality of leader-member exchange relationships with their supervisors. In the second study, the mechanisms underlying pre-test explanations were examined using an online sample of 269 working adults. Consistent with our conceptual framework, findings demonstrated that pre-test explanations had direct effects on transparency, respect, and reassurance. Taken together, these findings have implications for understanding the effects of pre-test explanations in organizational settings as well as the boundary conditions for their use. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Using pre-test explanations to improve test-taker reactions: Testing a set of "wise" interventions
- Creators
- Julie M. McCarthy - University of TorontoTalya N. Bauer - Portland State UniversityDonald M. Truxillo - Portland State UniversityMichael C. Campion - Pennsylvania State UniversityChad H. Van Iddekinge - Florida State UniversityMichael A. Campion - Pennsylvania State University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Organizational behavior and human decision processes, Vol.141, pp.43-56
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.obhdp.2017.04.002
- ISSN
- 0749-5978
- eISSN
- 1095-9920
- Number of pages
- 14
- Grant note
- 435-2015-0220 / Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/01/2017
- Academic Unit
- Management and Entrepreneurship
- Record Identifier
- 9984380501902771
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