A comparative analysis of the empirical validity of past- and present-oriented biographical items

This study sought to determine whether changing the time orientation or biodata items from past to present would result in a reduction of the items' validity. It was predicated on the notion that the traditionally employed measures of past performance were potentially unfair, especially to minority applicants. Administered to 192 members of the Air National Guard, the set of biodata items measuring present behavior was found to have validity coefficients which are at least comparable, if not superior, to the set measuring past behavior.