The I/O Solutions process
The I/O Solutions job analysis process typically begins with review of any pre-existing materials such as past job analyses and job descriptions. Next, interviews and job observations are conducted with a representative sample from the organization, with the purpose of obtaining task-level information about the job in question. The interviews and observations are complementary, as something that is accidentally omitted during an interview may be easily observed, and rarely performed but critical tasks that are not easily observed can be discussed in an interview. Job incumbents as well as supervisors – who may be more familiar with all aspects of the job – are interviewed. Interviews and observations provide I/O Solutions with a preliminary understanding of what skills and abilities are needed for successful performance in the specific job.
The Job Analysis Questionnaire
Information gathered through interviews and observation informs the creation of the Job Analysis Questionnaire (JAQ), a multisection survey instrument aimed at determining the knowledge, skills and abilities suitable for selection or promotional testing. Job incumbents’ ratings of task statements are obtained in the first section. The task statements are written to summarize major aspects and activities of the job and are organized by duty area (meaningful groupings of similar tasks). Some examples of duty areas include “Management and Leadership Activities” and “Training Activities.” Using five-point Likert rating scales, respondents indicate which tasks are important and used frequently in their job position. They also indicate whether the tasks are applicable to their job. An example of a task statement is “Review in-box items in order to determine responsibilities for self and staff.” The essentiality of each task is then calculated by using a proprietary formula that combines importance and frequency ratings for each task.
KSAs and Duty Areas
Ratings of importance and applicability for job knowledge, skill and ability areas are also collected in the JAQ. These ratings reflect the importance of the ability and knowledge areas to the job as a whole, across all duty areas, ensuring that the respective ability and knowledge areas are appropriate for testing. An example of a job knowledge area is “Agency Policies and Procedures.” An example of an ability area is “Decision-Making Ability.” Next, respondents rate the relative importance of duty areas.
Linkage
Finally, job duties are linked together with knowledge and ability areas by respondents in the final section of the JAQ. In conjunction with subject-matter expert input, this linkage section serves as a guideline for test formulation. Using a Likert scale, respondents rate to what degree a knowledge or ability is important to the performance of a duty area. For example, raters may be asked to judge to what degree the ability area of reading comprehension is important in the “Administrative Activities” duty area. The final knowledge linkage and ability linkage results provide a standardized score representing the importance of the knowledge or ability area across all duty areas, weighted based on the relative importance of the duty areas.
The results of the linkage analysis are used to determine an examination plan grounded in empirical data that is specifically linked to the job analysis. For more information, please see “Best Practices Related to Promotional Job Knowledge Exams.”
References
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Civil Service Commission, Department of Labor & Department of Justice (1978). “Uniform guidelines on employee selection procedures.” Federal register, 43 (166), 38290-38315.
Morgeson, F. P. & Campion, M. A. (1997). “Social and cognitive sources of potential inaccuracy in job analysis.” Journal of Applied Psychology, 82(5), 627-655.
Recommended textbook solutionsHDEV5
6th EditionSpencer A. Rathus
380 solutions
Social Psychology
10th EditionElliot Aronson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers, Timothy D. Wilson
525 solutions
Social Psychology
10th EditionElliot Aronson, Robin M. Akert, Timothy D. Wilson
525 solutions
Consumer Behavior: Buying, Having, Being
13th EditionMichael R Solomon
449 solutions