DIFFERENTIAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF APP LICANTS ACCEPTANCE OF INTELLIGENCE-TESTS AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SCENARIOS AS DIAGNOSTIC-TOOLS FOR PERSONNEL-SELECTION

Applicants' acceptance of diagnostic instruments for personnel selecti on differs depending on the specific characteristics pi these diagnost ic systems. Social acceptance concepts of personnel selection systems deal with the determinants of these acceptance ratings. In the present article, some potential effects of selection system acceptance are li sted and subsequently two concepts of social acceptance of selection s election systems are outlined. In addition, perspectives for further d evelopment of this concept are described. Progress is expected on one hand from a differential-psychological point of view which systematica lly rakes into account how individual differences influence the experi ence and evaluation of diagnostic situations. another important improv ement would be the implementation of methodologically sound and sophis ticated multi-dimensional measurement instruments for social acceptanc e. In the empirical section of the article a study is presented that h as taken these ideas into account. 103 policeofficers (male and female ) rated an intelligence test on one hand and a computer-based problem- solving scenario on the other in terms of various aspects of acceptanc e. Comparative analyses revealed that each of the two diagnostic syste ms had specific advantages and disadvantages in terms of acceptance. A cceptance ratings within one diagnostic system, as well as preference judgements between the two types of diagnostic instruments, turned out to be dependent on individual factors such as achievement, age, exper ience with and attitudes towards computers. Additionally, findings are reported for a follow-up measurement taken on average a year after th e performance feedback.