Psychology Doctoral Dissertation Defense: Mark Burnard
Thursday, October 26, 2023 1:45pm to 3:45pm
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Exploring the Applicant Reactions of Autistic Individuals to Digital Personnel Selection Instruments: A Mixed Methods Study
This mixed method exploratory study investigated the applicant reactions of autistic individuals to four samples of digitally enabled personnel selection instruments, including a workplace competency assessment, a cognitive ability assessment, a Situational Judgement Test (SJT), and an asynchronous video interview. Autistic adults (n=22) who work, seek work, or have worked in a professional-level job participated in up to two separate hour-long interviews. Each interview comprised previewing assessments, taking quantitative surveys, and answering interview questions. Across the surveys and interviews, applicant reactions constructs were assessed.
Eight main themes were generated from the qualitative data using reflexive thematic analysis. Germane to affective reactions was (1) ‘Emotional reactions are rich and complex’. Relevant to applicant reactions were (2) ‘Perceptions of opportunity to perform were informed by assessment items, response options, competencies measured, features, and format’, (3) ‘Perceptions of job relatedness and job fit were informed by assessment items, response options and modality, and competencies measured’, (4) ‘Assessment attributes are a salient source of test perceptions and reactions’, (5) ‘Item content was a salient source of test perceptions and reactions’. Among the themes related to proposed assessment modifications were (6) ‘Modifications to user interface (UI), assessment features, and information modalities’; (7) ‘Modifications to item content, competencies for increased job relevance, and KSAOs measured’; and (8) ‘Modifications to response process and format’. The supplementary quantitative survey data corroborated the themes in addition to providing a snapshot of applicant reactions. Practical implications for test developers and psychometric professionals are discussed.
Major Professor: Dr. Valentina Bruk-Lee
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