APPROPRIATENESS FIT AND CRITERION-RELATED VALIDITY

Unmotivated or suspicious test takers in concurrent validation studies can cause numerous problems for test users. The effects of these prob lems, however, have not been carefully examined. This study used item response theory-based appropriateness fit indexes to identify and remo ve from a validation sample those examinees whose response patterns di d not match their trait levels (e.g., examinees with low trait levels who answered difficult items correctly). The person-fit index l(z) des cribed in Drasgow, Levine, & Williams (1985) had little effect on vali dities. The multitest index l(zm) described by Drasgow & Hulin (1990) was more promising. Implications for selection research and practice a re discussed.