Assessment centers vs situational judgment tests: longitudinal predictors of success

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an empirical comparison of a high-fidelity managerial simulation, assessment center (AC) ratings, to that of a lower fidelity managerial simulation, a video situational judgment test (SJT) in the prediction of manager career success. Design/methodology/approach Archival data were collected from a large utility company. A measure of general mental ability (GMA), an SJT, and an AC were examined as predictors of career success as measured by increases in salary. Findings The AC and the video SJT used in this study appeared to assess different constructs, extending previous findings that ACs and written SJTs measure distinct constructs. Furthermore, the AC dimensions and the SJT remained valid predictors of salary over a six year span following the test administration. In addition, the AC explained significant incremental variance beyond GMA and SJTs in career success six years after the assessment. Research limitations/implications The SJTs and AC used in this study are similar in psychological fidelity, yet the ACs remained a more valid predictor over time. The recommendation is that lower fidelity simulations should not be used as prerequisites for higher fidelity simulations. Practical implications The results lend general support to the value of high-fidelity instruments in predicting longitudinal success. Originality/value The paper offers a comparison of the validity of ACs and video SJTs.