Development and Validation of a Social Skills Inventory

摘要

This report documents the development of two experimental tests, the Social Skills Inventory (SSI) and the Customer Service Inventory (CSI), and a corresponding experimental criterion measure, the Social Skills Examination Project Job Performance Rating Form (SS-JPRF). The present research effort addresses the competencies that enable individuals to work effectively as team members and to provide high quality service to the public. The measurement domain includes motivational and social skills. The measurement methodology employed is construct-based biodata. This methodology is referred to as 'construct-based' because items have their basis in competencies that were (1) identified prior to test construction and (2) shown in past research to be critical to effective job performance. More typically, biodata instruments derive their predictive ability from empirical links to criterion measures. In other words, if an individual item predicted the criterion, it was incorporated into the biodata instrument. The new instruments and experimental criterion measure are part of the Multi-Dimensional Assessment program within the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Office of Personnel Research and Development. The goal of OPM's Multi-Dimensional Assessment program is to expand the range of job-related skills covered by OPM examinations.