Affiliations: Washington University School of Medicine Program in
Occupational Therapy, St. Louis, MO, USA | Hanoun Medical Corporation, Denver, CO, USA
Note: [] Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of
Medicine, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA. E-mail:
mathesonl@msnotes.wustl.edu
Abstract: This study of the reliability of three new tests of work performance
considered the effect of test reactivity on measured performance. The tests are
components of an employment screening battery designed for placement of
applicants in automotive assembly jobs. Statistical measures of reliability
were compared with a simple measure of test reactivity in a sample of 51
healthy adults. The effect of test reactivity on employment selection decisions
using various cut scores was studied. Test reactivity is found to be a
significant threat to reliability that must be considered when skill-based
performance tests are used on a serial basis. When intended for use on a serial
basis, such tests should be studied for both reliability and reactivity. In
addition to reporting traditional statistical indices of reliability, an index
of the reactivity should be reported.
Keywords: functional assessment, reliability, test reactivity, validity, functional capacity evaluation
