Traditional tests and job simulations: Minority and majority performance and test validities

Performance of 565 minority and 414 majority job applicants on traditional paper-and-pencil tests and on a telephone simulation that measured similar constructs was assessed. Models of the measurement characteristics of these 2 test batteries indicated larger subgroup mean differences on the traditi onal tests than on the simulation. Correlations between traditional tests w ere lower in the majority sample than in the minority sample, and the varia nce of the minority candidates' scores on the traditional tests was much la rger than the variance of majority applicants' scores on the same measures. The validity of the simulation was lower than the validity of the traditio nal tests. This study replicates previous laboratory research that has indi cated smaller subgroup differences on simulations than on paper-and-pencil tests and extends this research by providing evidence of the relative valid ity of these 2 types of measures.