Validation of a correspondence aptitude test

Abstract

200 correspondence clerks in Prudential's Home Office were given a test of business situations requiring, for each one, a letter to be written. These clerks were divided into two matched groups, one for developing a key and the other for cross-validation purposes. 3 criterion measures were used in determining validation. These measures, and the product-moment correlations obtained between each of them and the test scores are as follows: (1) supervisory ratings, .38; (2) job level, .30; and (3) ratings and job level combined, .41. They key favors the following three types of responses: (1) cordial and friendly paragraphs instead of cool and disinterested ones; (2) customer-centered replies instead of company-centered ones; and (3) positive replies instead of those with a negative emphasis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)