Developing a computerized test of perceptual/clerical speed

Paper-and-pencil tests of perceptual/clerical speed have been used to selec t clerical staff for decades, however clerical work in the modern office en vironment involves the use of personal computers which did not exist when t hese tests were originally developed. A need therefore exists to update the established predictors of clerical work behaviors. One simple solution is to computerize the traditional pencil-and-paper tests, and this option was investigated in the current study in which a computerized perceptual/cleric al speed test (canceling t's and e's) was compared to a paper-and-pencil fo rm. Twenty different versions of the test were developed, varying type of t ext, feedback and user friendliness. Results from 43 participants demonstra ted the presence of a very strong common factor of speediness among all for ms of the test in addition to a second factor capturing unique method varia nce. Although closely related, the two forms were not equivalent. Type of t ext and the presence of feedback was also found to affect performance. Impl ications of these findings for the creation of new predictors of job perfor mance will be discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .