Relationship Between Culture and Responses to Biodata Employment Items

• Published in: Journal of applied psychology 1997-02, Vol.82 (1), p.113-129
• Main Authors: Whitney, David J, Schmitt, Neal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ability tests; Biographical Data; Biological and medical sciences; Black People; Blacks; Cognitive ability; College students; Cross Cultural Differences; Cultural differences; Cultural values; Culture; Differences; Employees; Employment; Employment Tests; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human; Human nature; Male; Occupational psychology; Orientation. Selection. Evaluation; Personnel selection; Preferences; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Race; Racial and Ethnic Differences; Response Bias; Social life & customs; Statistical analysis; Studies; Values; White People; Whites
• ISSN: 0021-9010; 1939-1854
• DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.82.1.113

The relationship between Black-White cultural value differences and responses to biodata employment items was investigated. Black and White college students were found to differ in endorsement of cultural values pertaining to basic human nature, the relationship between the individual and nature, temporal focus, and interpersonal relations. Using the loglinear approach suggested by B. F. Green, C. R. Crone, and V. G. Folk (1989) , the researchers found that over one quarter of the biodata employment items they examined exhibited differential item functioning (DIF) between racial subgroups. Although cultural values of the respondent were related to biodata response option selection, only limited evidence was found for the hypothesis that cultural values are associated with the observed differences in Black-White response choices. Recommendations regarding the further investigation of cultural influences on DIF are discussed.