Skip to main content

Situational Judgement Tests (SJTs)

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Selection and Recruitment in the Healthcare Professions

Abstract

In this chapter, we provide an introduction into Situational Judgement Tests (SJTs) and their use for assessment and selection in healthcare settings. The chapter begins by defining SJTs as a measurement methodology and follows by outlining the research evidence base exploring reliability, validity, and other considerations for using SJTs to assess and select candidates into high-stakes healthcare roles. The chapter closes with an overview of key issues for consideration in the future research, development, and applications for SJTs, including understanding group differences, technological advances, and uses in training and development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Anderson, N., Lievens, F., van Dam, K., & Born, M. (2006). A construct-driven investigation of gender differences in a leadership-role assessment center. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(3), 555–566. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.91.3.555.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Banki, S., & Latham, G. P. (2010). The criterion-related validities and perceived fairness of the situational interview and the situational judgment test in an Iranian organization. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 59(1), 124–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • British Medical Association. (2009). Equality and diversity in UK medical schools. London: BMA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buyse, T., & Lievens, F. (2011). Situational judgment tests as a new tool for dental student selection. Journal of Dental Education, 75(6), 743–749.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campion, M. C., Ployhart, R. E., & MacKenzie, W. I., Jr. (2014). The state of research on situational judgment tests: A content analysis and directions for future research. Human Performance, 27(4), 283–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Catano, V., Brochu, A., & Lamerson, C. (2012). Assessing the reliability of situational judgment tests used in high-stakes situations. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 20(3), 333–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, D., & Schmitt, N. (1997). Video-based versus paper-and-pencil method of assessment in situational judgment tests: Subgroup differences in test performance and face validity perceptions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 82(1), 143–159.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, D., & Schmitt, N. (2002). Situational judgment and job performance. Human Performance, 15(3), 233–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, D., Schmitt, N., Sacco, J. M., & DeShon, R. P. (1998). Understanding pretest and posttest reactions to cognitive ability and personality tests. Journal of Applied Psychology, 83(3), 471–485.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, L., Fan, J., Zheng, L., & Hack, E. (2016). Clearly defined constructs and specific situations are the currency of SJTs. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 9(1), 34–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christian, M. S., Edwards, B. D., & Bradley, J. C. (2010). Situational judgment tests: Constructs assessed and a meta-analysis of their criterion-related validities. Personnel Psychology, 63, 83–117. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2009.01163.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cleland, J. A., Nicholson, S., Kelly, N., & Moffat, M. (2015). Taking context seriously: Explaining widening accesspolicy enactments in UK medical schools. Medical Education, 25–35. Retrieved from http://www.gmc-uk.org/Identifying_best_practice_in_the_selection_of_medical_students.pdf_51119804.pdf.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clevenger, J., Pereira, G. M., Wiechmann, D., Schmitt, N., & Harvey, V. S. (2001). Incremental validation of situational judgment tests. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(3), 410–417. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.3.410.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corstjens, J., Lievens, F., & Krumm, S. (2017). Situational judgement tests for selection. In The Wiley Blackwell handbook of the psychology of recruitment, selection and employee retention, 1 (pp. 226–247). Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cousans, F., Patterson, F., Edwards, H., McLaughlan, J., & Good, D. (2017). Evaluating the complementary roles of a situational judgement test and academic assessment for entry into clinical practice. Advances in Health Sciences Education Special Issue, 22(2), 401–413.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dore, K. L., Reiter, H. I., Kreuger, S., & Norman, G. R. (2017a). CASPer, an online pre-interview screen for personal/professional characteristics: Prediction of national licensure scores. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 22(2), 327–336. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-016-9739-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dore, K. L., Reiter, H. I., Kreuger, S., & Norman, G. R. (2017b). Correction to: CASPer, an online pre-interview screen for personal/professional characteristics: Prediction of national licensure scores. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 22(5), 1321–1322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-017-9798-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Escudier, M., Flaxman, C., Cousans, F., Woolford, M., & Patterson, F. (2015). Pilot results from a new assessment of professionalism. Proceedings of the AMEE Conference 2015; Glas. UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, E., Semper, H., Yates, J., Fitzgerald, J., Skatova, A., & James, D. (2014). The ‘dark side’ and ‘bright side’ of personality: When too much conscientiousness and too little anxiety are detrimental with respect to the acquisition of medical knowledge and skill. PLoS ONE, 9(2), 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaugler, B. B., Rosenthal, D. B., Thornton, G. C., & Bentson, C. (1987). Meta-analysis of assessment center validity. Journal of Applied Psychology, 72(3), 493–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golubovich, J., Seybert, J., Martin-raugh, M., Naemi, B., Vega, R. P., & Roberts, R. D. (2017). Assessing perceptions of interpersonal behavior with a video-based situational judgment test. International Journal of Testing, 17(3), 191–209. https://doi.org/10.1080/15305058.2016.1194275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graziano, W. G., Jensen-campbell, L. A., & Hair, E. C. (1996). Perceiving interpersonal conflict and reacting to it: The case for agreeableness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(4), 820–835.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Guenole, N., Chernyshenko, O. S., & Weekly, J. (2017). On designing construct driven situational judgment tests: Some preliminary recommendations. International Journal of Testing, 17(3), 234–252. https://doi.org/10.1080/15305058.2017.1297817.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanning, U. P., Grewe, K., Hollenberg, S., & Hadouch, M. (2006). From the subject’s point of view: Reactions to different types of situational judgment items. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 22, 168–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasten, N., & Freund, P. A. (2016). A meta-analytical multilevel reliability generalization of Situational Judgment Tests (SJTs). European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 32(3), 230–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kline, P. (2000). Handbook of psychological testing (2nd ed.). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koczwara, A., Patterson, F., Zibarras, L. D., Kerrin, M., Irish, B., & Wilkinson, M. (2012). Evaluating cognitive ability, knowledge tests and situational judgement tests for postgraduate selection. Medical Education, 46(4), 399–408. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2011.04195.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Libbrecht, N., Lievens, F., & Carette, B. (2014). Emotional intelligence predicts success in medical school. Emotion, 14(1), 64–73. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034392.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lievens, F. (2013). Adjusting medical school admission: Assessing interpersonal skills using situational judgement tests. Medical Education, 47, 182–189. https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.12089.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lievens, F. (2017). Construct-driven SJTs: Toward an agenda for future research. International Journal of Testing, 17, 269–276. https://doi.org/10.1080/15305058.2017.1309857.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lievens, F., Buyse, T., & Sackett, P. R. P. (2005). The operational validity of a video-based situational judgment test for medical college admissions: Illustrating the importance of matching predictor and criterion construct domains. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(3), 442–452. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.90.3.442.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lievens, F., Corstjens, J., Angel, M., Olea, J., Ponsoda, V., & Jos, F. (2015). The cross-cultural transportability of situational judgment tests: How does a US-based integrity situational judgment test fare in Spain? International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 23(4), 361–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lievens, F., De Corte, W., & Westerveld, L. (2015). Understanding the building blocks of selection procedures: Effects of response fidelity on performance and validity. Journal of Management, 41(6), 1604–1627.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lievens, F., & Motowidlo, S. J. (2016). Situational judgment tests: From measures of situational judgment to measures of general domain knowledge. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 9(1), 3–22. https://doi.org/10.1017/iop.2015.71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lievens, F., & Patterson, F. (2011). The validity and incremental validity of knowledge tests, low-fidelity simulations, and high-fidelity simulations for predicting job performance in advanced-level high-stakes selection. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 96(5), 927–940.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lievens, F., Patterson, F., Corstjens, J., Martin, S., & Nicholson, S. (2016). Widening access in selection using situational judgement tests: Evidence from the UKCAT. Medical Education, 50(6), 624–636. https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.13060.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lievens, F., Peeters, H., & Schollaert, E. (2008). Situational judgment tests: A review of recent research. Personnel Review, 37(4), 426–441. https://doi.org/10.1108/00483480810877598.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lievens, F., & Sackett, P. R. (2012). The validity of interpersonal skills assessment via situational judgment tests for predicting academic success and job performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 97(2), 460–468. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025741.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luschin-Ebengreuth, M., Dimai, H. P., Ithaler, D., Neges, H. M., & Reibnegger, G. (2015). Situational judgment test as an additional tool in a medical admission test: An observational investigation. BMC Research Notes, 8(1), 81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, M., & Motowidlo, S. (2010). A single-response SJT for measuring procedural knowledge for human factors professionals. In Poster Session Presented at 25th Annual Meeting of the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCrae, R. R., & Costa, P. (2008). Empirical and theoretical status of the five-factor model of personality traits. In The Sage handbook of personality theory and assessment (pp. 273–294). https://doi.org/10.4135/9781849200462.n13.

  • McDaniel, M., Hartman, N., Whetzel, D., & Grubb, W. (2007). Situational judgment tests, response instructions, and validity: A meta-analysis. Personnel Psychology, 60, 63–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDaniel, M. A., Morgeson, F. P., Finnegan, E. B., & Campion, M. A. (2001). Use of situational judgment tests to predict job performance: A clarification of the literature. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(4), 730–740.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McDaniel, M., & Nguyen, N. (2001). Situational judgment tests: A review of practice and constructs assessed. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 9(1/2), 103–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDaniel, M., & Whetzel, D. (2007). Situational judgment tests. In D. Whetzel & G. Wheaton (Eds.), Applied measurement: Industrial psychology in human resources management (pp. 235–257). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum and Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDaniel, M. A., Whetzel, D. L., Schmidt, F. L., & Maurer, S. D. (1994). The validity of employment interviews: A comprehensive review and meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 79(4), 599–616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Motowidlo, S. J., & Beier, M. E. (2010). Differentiating specific job knowledge from implicit trait policies in procedural knowledge measured by a situational judgment test. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 95(2), 321–333. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017975.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Motowidlo, S. J., Crook, A. E., Kell, H., & Naemi, B. (2009). Measuring procedural knowledge more simply with a single-response situational judgment test. Journal of Business and Psychology, 24(3), 281–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Motowidlo, S. J., Hooper, A. C., & Jackson, H. L. (2006). Implicit policies about relations between personality traits and behavioral effectiveness in situational judgment items. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(4), 749–761. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.91.4.749.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mussel, P., Gatzka, T., Hewig, J., Mussel, P., Gatzka, T., & Hewig, J. (2016). Situational judgment tests as an alternative measure for personality assessment. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Connell, M. S., Hartman, N. S., McDaniel, M. A., Grubb, W. L., & Lawrence, A. (2007). Incremental validity of situational judgment tests for task and contextual job performance. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 15(1), 19–29. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2389.2007.00364.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill, L., Vonsild, M., Wallstedt, B., & Dornan, T. (2013). Admission criteria and diversity in medical school. Medical Education, 47(6), 557–561.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oswald, F., Schmitt, N., Kim, B., Ramsay, L. J., & Gillespie, M. A. (2004). Developing a biodata measure and situational judgment inventory as predictors of college student performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 89(2), 187–207. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.89.2.187.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pangallo, A., Zibarras, L., & Patterson, F. (2016). Measuring resilience in palliative care workers using the situational judgement test methodology. Medical Education, 50, 1131–1142. https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.13072.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Aitkenhead, A., Edwards, H., Flaxman, C., Shaw, R., & Rosselli, A. (2015). Analysis of the situational judgement test for selection to the foundation programme 2015: Technical Report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Ashworth, V., Kerrin, M., & O’Neill, P. (2013). Situational judgement tests represent a measurement method and can be designed to minimise coaching effects situational judgement tests represent a measurement method and can be designed to minimise coaching effects. Medical Education (February). https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.12100.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Ashworth, V., Mehra, S., & Falcon, H. (2012). Could situational judgement tests be used for selection into dental foundation training? British Dental Journal, 213(1), 23–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Ashworth, V., Zibarras, L., Coan, P., Kerrin, M., & Neill, P. O. (2012). Evaluations of situational judgement tests to assess non-academic attributes in selection. Medical Education, 46(9), 850–868. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2012.04336.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Baron, H., Carr, V., Plint, S., & Lane, P. (2009). Evaluation of three short-listing methodologies for selection into postgraduate training in general practice. Medical Education, 43(1), 50–57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Carr, V., Zibarras, L., Burr, B., Berkin, L., Plint, S., … Gregory, S. (2009). New machine-marked tests for selection into core medical training: Evidence from two validation studies. Clinical Medicine, 9(5), 417–420.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Knight, A., Dowell, J., Nicholson, S., Cousans, F., & Cleland, J. (2016). How effective are selection methods in medical education? A systematic review. Medical Education, 50, 36–60. https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.12817.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Knight, A., Mcknight, L., & Booth, T. C. (2016). Evaluation of two selection tests for recruitment into radiology specialty training. BMC Medical Education, 16(170), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-016-0687-0.

  • Patterson, F., Lievens, F., Kerrin, M., Munro, N., & Irish, B. (2013). The predictive validity of selection for entry into postgraduate training in general practice: Evidence from three longitudinal studies. British Journal of General Practice, 63(616), 734–741. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp13X674413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Lievens, F., Kerrin, M., Zibarras, L., & Carette, B. (2012). Designing selection systems for medicine: The importance of balancing predictive and political validity in high-stakes selection contexts. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 20(4), 486–496. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsa.12011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Lopes, A. S., Harding, B. S., Vaux, C. E., E, D. L. B., & F, D. B. (2017). The predictive validity of a situational judgement test, a clinical problem solving test and the core medical training selection methods for performance in specialty training (February). https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.17-1-13.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Prescott-Clements, L., Zibarras, L., Edwards, H., Kerrin, M., & Cousans, F. (2015). Recruiting for values in healthcare: A preliminary review of the evidence. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 21(4), 859–881. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-014-9579-4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Rowett, E., Hale, R., Grant, M., Roberts, C., Cousans, F., et al. (2016). The predictive validity of a situational judgement test and multiple-mini interview for entry into postgraduate training in Australia. BMC Medical Education, 16(1), 87. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-016-0606-4.

  • Patterson, F., Zibarras, L., & Ashworth, V. (2015). Situational judgement tests in medical education and training: Research, theory and practice: AMEE Guide No. 100. Medical Teacher, 0(0), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3109/0142159X.2015.1072619.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ployhart, R., & Ehrhart, M. G. (2003). Be careful what you ask for: Effects of response instructions on the construct validity and reliability of situational judgment tests. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 11(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2389.00222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ployhart, R., & Weekley, J. (2006). Situational judgment tests: A research synthesis and directions for future research. In J. Weekley & R. E. Ployhart (Eds.), Situational judgment tests (pp. 345–350). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Earlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ployhart, R. E., Weekley, J. A., Holtz, B. C., & Kemp, C. (2003). Web-based and paper-and-pencil testing of applicants in a proctored setting: Are personality, biodata, and situational judgment tests comparable? Personnel Psychology, 56, 733–752.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powis, D. (2014). Selecting medical students: An unresolved challenge*. Medical Teacher (April), 252–260. https://doi.org/10.3109/0142159X.2014.993600.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rust, J., & Golombok, S. (1999). Modern psychometrics: The science of psychological assessment. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, F. (1994). The future of personnel selection in the U.S. Army. In J. Weekley & R. Ployhart (Eds.), Personnel selection and classification (pp. 333–350). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon, E., Walsh, K., Paterson-Brown, F., & Cahill, D. (2015). Does a high ranking mean success in the Situational Judgement Test? The Clinical Teacher, 12(1), 42–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stemig, M. S., Sackett, P. R., & Lievens, F. (2015). Effects of organizationally endorsed coaching on performance and validity of situational judgment tests. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 23(2), 174–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stemler, S., Aggarwal, V., & Nithyanand, S. (2016). Knowing what not to do is a critical job skill: Evidence from 10 different scoring methods. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 24(3), 229–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wakeford, R., Denney, M.-L., Ludka-Stempien, K., Dacre, J., & McManus, I. (2015). Cross-comparison of MRCGP & MRCP (UK) in a database linkage study of 2,284 candidates taking both examinations: Assessment of validity and differential performance by ethnicity. BMC Medical Education, 15(1), 1–12.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Weekley, J. A., & Jones, C. (1999). Further studies of situational tests. Personnel Psychology, 52(3), 679–700.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wernimot, P., & Campbell, J. (2009). Situational judgment tests: An overview of current research. Human Resource Management Review, 3, 188–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whetzel, D. L., & McDaniel, M. A. (2009). Situational judgment tests: An overview of current research. Human Resource Management Review, 19(3), 188–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2009.03.007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whetzel, D. L., McDaniel, M. A., & Nguyen, N. T. (2008). Subgroup differences in situational judgment test performance: A meta-analysis. Human Performance, 21(3), 291–309. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959280802137820.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whetzel, D. L., & Reeder, M. C. (2016). Why some situational judgment tests fail to predict job performance (and others succeed). Human Resources Research Organization, 9(1), 71–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woolf, K., Potts, H., & McManus, I. (2011). Ethnicity and academic performance in UK trained doctors and medical students: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 342, d901.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fiona Patterson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Patterson, F., Driver, R. (2018). Situational Judgement Tests (SJTs). In: Patterson, F., Zibarras, L. (eds) Selection and Recruitment in the Healthcare Professions. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94971-0_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics