Transparency: A Necessary Requirement for the Construct Validity of Assessment Centres

La validité de construction des centres d'évaluation et la performance perçue des candidats sont-elles sensibles au fait que ceux-ci aient ou non connaissance des dimensions jugées pertinentes? 119 étudiants de 1° cycle ont participéà une session de centre d'évaluation dans des conditions de transparence et de non transparence. II est apparu que la validité de construction était supérieure quand les participants connaissaient les dimensions recherchées et le comportement attendu de leur part. En outre, les notations des sujets de la condition "transparence" qui admettaient avoir soumis leur conduite aux dimensions attendues bénéficiaient d'une validité discriminante et convergente supérieure à celle des notations des sujets qui affirmaient n'avoir tenu aucun compte des dites dimensions. L'impact de la transparence des dimensions recherchées sur la validité de construction des centres d'évaluation est discuté.
The present study tested whether the construct validity of assessment centres and the perceived performance of candidates were influenced by whether or not the requirement dimensions were made transparent for participants. A total of 119 college students participated in an assessment centre under either transparent or nontransparent conditions. Results showed that construct validity was higher when participants knew the requirement dimensions and what behaviour was required of them. In addition, the ratings of subjects in the transparency condition who reported that they had oriented their behaviour towards the requirement dimensions had higher convergent and discriminant validity than the ratings of subjects who reported that they disregarded the requirement dimensions. The consequences of the transparency of requirement dimensions for the construct validity of assessment centres are discussed.