The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail
In a recent book, Nate Silver illustrates the limitations of people to think in probabilistic terms and build models that incorporate uncertainty. This is not a trivial matter and is a major contributing factor to the financial crash that started in late 2007, the effects of which are still resonating
Studies You Should Know: Personality Testing In a Selection Context
Klehe, U. C., Kleinmann, M., Hartstein, T., Melchers, K. G., König, C. J., Heslin, P. A., & Lievens, F. (2012). Responding to personality tests in a selection context: The role of the ability to identify criteria and the ideal-employee factor. Human Performance, 25(4), 273-302. Abstract Personality assessments are often distorted
Studies You Should Know: Leveraging 360-Feedback
Nowack, K. M., & Mashihi, S. (2012). Evidence-based answers to 15 questions about leveraging 360-degree feedback. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 64(3), 157. Abstract Despite the popularity of 360-degree feedback, meta-analytic findings suggest that these interventions can lead to a significant change in behavior but the effect sizes are
Replication, Measurement, and the Advancement of I/O Psychology: Two Years On
Two years ago when this blog was started, the key driver was to have a forum, not only to discuss best practice in I/O psychology but to also question many of the conventional wisdom’s held in this field. In particular, the relationship between science and rigour was noted as something that
Never Forget Your Occam’s Razor When Travelling!
In my previous role in the UK, I was often confronted by very complex measures of psychological traits. This included the likes of multi-faceted competency models, complex appraisal forms, and measures of engagement with more scales than a grand piano. Having factor analysed the results of many of these models,
Playing Games Makes You A Better Person?
So often in society, obvious conclusions are drawn for complex interactions. A classic case of this is the supposed rise in violent crime and video games. Firstly the rise in crime is indeed far more a media phenomena than a reality. In many countries, crime is decreasing and certainly if
New Zealand: The Home Of Culturally Appropriate Testing
New Zealand is a fantastic country. This statement will come as no surprise to many but it is often taken for granted by us Kiwis as to what a great place to both live and work New Zealand is. One of the many things that make New Zealand great is
A Big Theory
For my last blog on the psychological articles in the Economist I would like to draw people’s attention away from I/O psychology and into more fundamental science. For those that don’t know, Stephen Hawkins is attempting to find a unifying theory of the universe that connects both theories of the
How Scientific is Peer Review
In my contemplation of the purity of scientific pursuit, I came across an article by Frank Furedi (Science’s peer system needs a review, The Australian, 20 February 2010) that highlights a myth that is commonly known to researchers and central to the mysticism of science. The myth: That the esoteric
Job Satisfaction and Work Productivity
A current hot topic in the world of I/O is the relationship between happiness at work and work productivity. Everyone can see the ‘human-benefit’ of having a happy workplace, and the idea that increased job satisfaction and a harmonious workplace are inherently good things makes obvious sense. However, the link