Transportability of Validity of the National Police Officer Selection Test for a Large Eastern Metropolitan Police Department

Abstract

This study compared the position of police officers in a large eastern U.S. metropolitan police department to the sample of police officers (N = 250) used originally to develop and validate the National Police Officer Selection Test (POST). A method was used which provided a basis for conducting studies of the transportability of validity, i.e., studies which demonstrate that test evidence on validity developed in a particular location can be effectively used as evidence of validity in an entirely new location, with other examinations validated using a content validity strategy. Content Validity Indices from the new sample's job analysis (N = 115) correlated highly (r = .89) with the original job analysis data (N = 250). Further analyses indicated no significant differences between samples with regard to ratings of importance of skills identified as essential for successful performance of the police officer's position. Finally, a multivariate approach was used as a more conservative means of comparing job profiles. A discussion of the implications of these findings for making decisions about the transportability of validity is provided.