Abstract
Given the importance of demonstrating test validity and lack of adverse impact on groups covered by EEO/Title VII statutes, this study examined minority-white differences on a police aptitude examination used extensively by police agencies for selecting entry-level officers. Little information exists on the validity of the Multijurisdictional Police Officer Exam and whether use of the test adversely affects selection of minority subjects. This study focused on the relationships between the test and a reliable measure of job performance for officers (N = 194) in 6 Mid-Atlantic police jurisdictions. Based on simple rs and multiple regression analyses, only modest and nonsignificant relationships were found for white subjects, while strong patterns emerged for minorities, findings masked by using an “over-all study sample” typically employed in previous research. Minorities had significantly lower mean scores than white officers on several subtests and the total score, but there was no significant difference in over-all performance ratings. These findings are discussed in the increasingly litigious context of EEO and Title VII regulations which affect use of test scores for selection of personnel.
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