Faking biodata tests: Are option-keyed instruments more resistant?

Abstract

Response biases in biodata scores derived with option-keying and item-keying procedures were investigated. Results indicated that (a) when subjects simulated responding as job applicants they distorted their responses in a socially desirable direction; (b) itemkeyed scores were susceptible to inflation due to socially desirable responding and specific job-title knowledge, but option-keyed scores were not; and (c) response biases were not reflected in response latencies. A supplementary analysis indicated that the two keying procedures may capture different aspects of criterion variance. Implications for reconciling conflicting reports about the susceptibility of biodata scores to response biases are discussed. Issues related to reliability and validity of the two keying procedures, and the generalizability of the results to personality tests, are also discussed.

They Don't Do It Often, But They Do It Well: Exploring the relationship between applicant mental abilities and faking

“…Second, and more importantly, there is some evidence that biodata might be a more fakable noncognitive measure than personality and integrity measures (McFarland & Ryan, 2000). This is particularly true for biodata measures that use rational scaling procedures as opposed to empirical scaling procedures (Kluger, Reilly, & Russell, 1991;Mael & Hirsch, 1993;Stokes & Searcy, 1999). In an empirical scaling strategy, items are selected and weighted based on their statistical ability to differentiate membership in higher and lower performing criterion groups (Hogan, 1994).…”

Building a Joint-Service Classification Research Roadmap: Individual Differences Measurement

“…Another study (Kluger, Reilly, & Russell, 1991) compared faking on a biodata instrument when the form was item-keyed versus option-keyed. When items are option-keyed, each response option is empirically weighted; whereas item weights typically give the most weight to an option at one end of the response continuum and successively lower weights to each consecutive option.…”

“…The hypothesis was supported by the study. Kluger et al (1991) also examined the usefulness of response latencies for detecting response distortion. Latencies were found not to vary between subjects who were asked to answer truthfully and those who were asked to respond as if they were "actually applying for a job.…”

An Examination of Biodata Theory‐Based Constructs in a Field Context

“…This, in addition to the use of response option empirical keying, lessened the possibility of response inflation. Regardless, Kluger et al (1991) found response inflation does not influence criterion validities exhibited by response option-scored biodata.…”