Acceptance increase = validity decrease? Comparison of an abstract and a job-oriented matrices test

Although GMA-tests are valid indicators for predicting occupational success (Kramer, 2009; Schmidt & Hunter, 1998), they are seldomly used in German organizations due to low acceptance (Schuler, Hell, Trapmann, Boramir & Schaar, 2007). The present study investigates whether a job-oriented design increases the acceptance of a matrices-test while the test still meets the quality criteria. The BOMAT (Hossiep, Turck & Hasella, 2001), a rather abstract but valid matrices-test is contrasted with the BBM, a test with job-related symbols, developed for research purposes. Both procedures proofed to be reliable and valid in this sample (N=360), particularly because of moderate criterion-validities with secondary school grades (rBOMAT = -.45; rBBM = -.43) and Bachelor grades (rBOMAT = -.41; rBBM = -.39). High inter-correlations of both tests as well as with the IST-2000R and low correlations with the NEO-FFI indicate construct-validity. The job-oriented design was superior in terms of face validity and equal value regarding perceived psychometric-quality, opportunity to perform, and perceived strain (AKZEPT!-L: Kersting, 2008). Sorry, the complete entry is only available in German.