Concurrent Validity of a Written Test for Entry Level Social Workers

Abstract

Scores on three pretest forms of a content-validated multiple-choice test for entry level social workers were correlated with job performance ratings by social worker supervisors. Generally positive but mixed correlations were found between scores on the Social Work subtest and performance ratings. For social workers who deal mainly with urban clients, correlations between Reading-English subtest scores and performance ratings tended to be slightly positive but markedly lower than those for Social Work subtest scores. Correlations of Social Work subtest scores with ratings of empathy and creativeness were among the higher ones obtained. Women pretest examinees had significantly higher Social Work subtest scores than did men on two of the three pretest forms. Test scores predicted the job performance ratings of workers who were employed in urban settings much more accurately than those of workers who were located in rural settings. The existence of differences in knowledge held by supervisors of their workers was offered as a possible explanation of this finding of differential validity.