The Performance Diagnostic Checklist and Its Variants: A Systematic Review

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Performance Diagnostic Checklist (PDC) is an indirect assessment tool used to identify the variables supporting problematic employee performance. The tool includes four domains; based on PDC results, an assessment-based intervention targeting one or more of these domains is evaluated. In recent years, PDC variants such as the PDC-Human Services (PDC-HS), the PDC-Safety, and the PDC-Parent have been developed. The purpose of this study is to review the research that has employed the PDC and its variants. We found twenty-eight published studies which have used the PDC or one of its variants. The PDC-HS has been most commonly used, followed by the PDC, the PDC-Safety, and PDC-Parent. The PDC and its variants have most often been completed with supervisors of employees exhibiting performance concerns. Many studies have identified multiple PDC domains as problematic, although domains representing antecedents and consequences are most commonly indicated. Interventions have typically been developed based on the highest scoring domain. Few studies have collected data on social validity or maintenance of intervention effects. Overall, results support the utility of the PDC and its variants, but also highlight PDC-related topics in need of additional research