Surrogate measures of original authors' reward context, primary motivation for doing the research and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) were examined for their affect on criterion-related validities reported in the Journal of Applied Psychology and Personnel Psychology between 1964 and 1992. Number of years of experience (a surrogate KSA measure) displayed no modering relationship. Type of organizational need (equal employment opportunity compliance, augmenting existing selection system, etc.) and investigator interest (e.g. theory testing) were related to criterion-related validities. Place of authors' employment (i.e. reward context) also displayed a moderating relationship (authors in private industry reported higher average validities in comparison with academics). Interaction effects on criterion-related validities were found between authors' experience and (a) place of employment and (b) primary motivation for conducting the research. Results are interpreted in view of possible differences in ability, motivation, and opportunity to do research across employment settings.
Abstract