Berman, Bowman, West, & Wart, Human Resource Management in Public Service, Sixth Edition
SAGE Publishing, 2020
Study Questions
Chapter 4: Selection: From Civil Service Commissions to
Decentralized Decision Making
1. What are three paradoxes related to selection? (131–132)
2. What are some similarities in recruitment between the United States and other
countries? (133)
3. What are seven criteria used in selection? (133)
4. What are the limitations of electoral popularity as a criterion? (134)
5. What is the status of social class as a criterion? (134)
6. What is implied by the patronage criterion? (135)
7. What are the three criteria used in patronage selection? (135)
8. What is emphasized in merit systems? (135)
9. What justifications are used to support seniority? (137)
Berman, Bowman, West, & Wart, Human Resource Management in Public Service, Sixth Edition
SAGE Publishing, 2020
10. What are the pros and cons of seniority? (137)
11. What are some types of representativeness? (137)
12. What is fit as a selection principle? (138)
13. What is the spoils system? (140)
14. What are four features of the Pendleton Act? (141)
15. What are four complaints made against civil service systems? (142)
16. What is the Federal excepted service and is it really noncompetitve? (143)
17. What is a temporary employee? (144)
18. What is a term worker? (144)
19. Why has there been an increasing interest in finding opportunities for older workers?
(144)
20. Explain the use of technology in selection. (144)
21. What three areas can potentially share responsibilities for selection? (144)
22. What is the newer 1990s model? (144)
23. What are the pros and cons of the newer 1990s model? (145)
24. What dominant values are associated with each of the six historical time periods?
(146)
•
25. What are three acceptable test validation strategies? (146)
26. What is content validity? (147)
27. What is criterion validity? (147)
28. What is construct validity? (147)
29. Where is construct validity often used? (147)
30. What are the four phases of screening? (148–149)
31. What is an unassembled exam? (148)
32. What are examples of jobs requiring licensure? (150)
Medical positions (such as doctors, nurses, and anesthesiologists), engineering and
33. What are some examples of general aptitude and trait tests? (152)
34. What are examples of performance tests? (153)
35. How are work samples used? (153)
36. What three screening criteria are viewed as the most important information sources
for predicting performance “to a great extent?” (Exhibit 4.5) (154)
37. What is the trend regarding testing? (153)
38. What are some issues to clarify regarding interviews? (155)
39. What are some errors to avoid concerning interviewing? (155)
40. What is the current status of the rule of three? (156)
41. Which three tips on preparing for an interview are most helpful? (155)
42. What are five ways to assess applicant’s critical thinking and applied ability? (157)
43. What can give rise to negligent-hiring lawsuits? (162)
44. What should be addressed in telephone reference checks? (162)
While many employers have a policy against giving any information other than verification
45. What are some unacceptable questions to ask applicants? (159)
46. What are some factors in contingent hiring? (163)
47. In what way is the probationary period part of selection? (164)