J. Hennessy et al., Assessment centre observation procedures: An experimental comparison of traditional, checklist and coding methods, INT J SEL A, 6(4), 1998, pp. 222-231
Concern about the construct validity of assessment centre judgements has le
d to calls for research into observers' cognitive processes. In an experime
nt comparing the Traditional observation procedure against use of a Behavio
ural Checklist and of Behavioural Coding, six outcome variables were examin
ed. The methods were found to yield similar outcomes in terms of accuracy o
f judgement, accuracy of written evidence, correlation between dimension ra
tings, and attitude toward the method employed. However, significant betwee
n-method differences were observed in variability between observers and in
their willingness to recommend a procedure. It is argued that Behavioural C
oding has special merit in assessment centres; the method reduces the cogni
tive demands placed on assessors, and valuably structures their information
-processing. Traditional objections to simultaneous observation and classif
ication are shown to be inappropriate.