Lussier, Human Resources Management 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Sample Answers
Chapter 6: Selecting New Employees
Answers to Applying the Concept Exercises
Applying the Concept 6-1: Validity and Reliability
Write the letter corresponding to each of the following before the situation in which it is
discussed.
a. criterion-related validity
b. content validity
c. construct validity
d. reliability
1. A job candidate failed a job application test, but she claims that the test is not fair and that
she can do the job. What type of evidence do you need to ensure that the test is in fact a good
predictor of job performance?
2. You are running a law firm and require all your lawyers to pass the bar exam. What does
the bar exam need to do to indicate it is a good test?
3. You have developed a new system for predicting future company sales. Your boss wants
some proof that it works.
A. Criterion-related validity. You need to address criterion related to demonstrate that your
see if it is accurate in the future.
4. An NFL team makes a recruit take an intelligence test. The recruit’s score is below the
acceptable level, so the team refuses to hire the player. The player complains, stating that his
intelligence score has nothing to do with playing football. What evidence do you need to
support not hiring the player?
Lussier, Human Resources Management 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
5. You decided to let the job candidate in situation 1 above take the application test again.
The next day she took the test again, and the score was within a couple of points of her score
on the first test. So you again decide not to hire her. What evidence do you need to support
this decision?
Applying the Concept 6-2: Pre-Employment Questions
Using Exhibit 6-2 and the general guideline not to ask any questions that are not job related
unless they are BFOQs, identify whether each question can or cannot be asked on an
application form or during a job interview.
a. Legal (can ask)
b. Illegal (cannot ask during pre-employment)
6. What languages do you speak?
7. Are you married or single?
B. Illegal (cannot ask during pre-employment). You cannot ask specific questions about
marital status unless it is a BFOQ.
8. How many children do you have?
9. So you want to be a truck driver. Are you a member of the Teamsters Union representing
truck drivers?
Lussier, Human Resources Management 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
10. Are you straight or a homosexual?
11. Have you ever belonged to a union?
B. Illegal (cannot ask during pre-employment). Union membership could be used to
discriminate in a place that is fighting unions.
12. What is your date of birth?
B. Illegal (cannot ask during pre-employment). A date of birth will tell a person’s age. This
13. Have you been arrested for stealing on the job?
14. Do you own your own car?
15. Do you have any form of disability?
16. Are you a member of the Knights of Columbus?
B. Illegal (cannot ask during pre-employment). You cannot ask about organizations not
related to the job.
Lussier, Human Resources Management 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
17. Can you prove you are legally eligible to work?
18. Are you currently a member of the military reserve?
19. What is your religion?
B. Illegal (cannot ask during pre-employment). You cannot ask about religion; it is not
related to the job.
20. How much do you weigh?
Applying the Concept 6-3: Type of Test
Write before each job situation below the letter corresponding to the type of test described.
a. genetic
b. skills
c. personality and interest
d. cognitive ability
e. honesty or integrity—polygraph
f. physical skills
g. physical exam
h. drug
21. As part of the selection process, you will have to answer questions while being monitored
by this machine.
22. A paper-and-pencil test is administered so that we can determine whether you have the
right characteristics to succeed on the job.
Lussier, Human Resources Management 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
C. Personality. Personality tests are designed to measure characteristics of the individual.
23. You have to undergo an exam by our doctor to determine whether you can handle the job.
24. To get the drywalling job, you will have to hang, tape, and paste 10 sheets while doing a
quality job, all in 3 hr.
25. Part of the selection process is to take our intelligence test.
26. Part of the firefighter test is to carry this 50-pound dummy up this ladder in 2 min or less.
27. You have to go in the bathroom now and put a sample of your urine in this cup so we can
test it.
H. Drug test. The urine test is the commonly used drug test.
28. You need to take a test so that we can determine if you might get any known illnesses or
diseases in the future.
Answers to Skill Builder Exercises
Skill Builder 6–1 Ideas
Total Time (0–20 min)
This exercise is designed primarily for individual experience. However, there is class value
with either an individual or group approach.
Lussier, Human Resources Management 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
As a class, have volunteers present their questions.
Skill Builder 6–2 Ideas
Interviewing
Total Time (20–50 min)
This exercise is designed primarily for developing questions and interviewing, as well as
being interviewed.
Have students decide who will play the role of interviewer, interviewee, and observer. Set a
time limit for the interview. Generally, students with full-time job experience will take
longer.
You may rotate the two or three roles so that each person gets a chance to play each role.
Lussier, Human Resources Management 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Another option is to just have one volunteer to be the interviewer and interviewee. They
conduct an interview for the whole class to observe and discuss when it is over.