Evaluating the Logical Critique of Banding

Kevin R. Murphy, Brett Myors

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Schmidt (1991) argued that “all banding procedures in personnel selection are fatally flawed logically” (p. 265). The basis of his critique is the inconsistency inherent in banding, that is, that large test score differences within bands are ignored, whereas small differences between scores just within and just outside of the band are treated as meaningful. This critique is well-founded, but it does not by itself constitute a fatal logical flaw, nor is it in any way unique to banding. Rather, a wide range of measurement and decision-making systems commonly used in the behavioral sciences suffer from the same inconsistency exhibited by banding. It is illogical to reject banding on the grounds of this inconsistency, but to accept the results of a wide range of measurement and decision-making systems that share this same basic flaw. Our analyses suggest that the logical critique advanced by Schmidt does not provide a basis for making decisions about the appropriateness of banding.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)191-201
Number of pages11
JournalHuman Performance
Volume8
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sep 1995
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Evaluating the Logical Critique of Banding'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this