Group differences in biographical inventories: A meta-analysis on the adverse impact potential of biodata

Abstract

The purpose of the present meta-analysis was to determine if biodata scale scores differ based on demographic group membership (i.e., gender, race, age) and to evaluate the contextual factors that amplify or mitigate these effects (e.g., construct domain, scoring method). Despite the popularity of biodata scales for personnel selection purposes, previous research findings do not provide clear evidence as to whether adverse impact is a serious concern. To address this gap, a meta-analysis of 43 studies (56 independent samples) was conducted, providing estimates of group differences across demographic groups (female–male, Black–White, Hispanic–White, Asian–White, and age) and relevant construct domains. The majority of biodata scale scores were found to exhibit small group differences across construct domains and demographic groups (≈75% had Cohen’s d less than |.20|). Group differences were also relatively small when compared with other popular selection methods. When considered with previous research, these findings provide further support for the use of biodata scales in personnel selection scenarios. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)