Assessment centers: Recent developments in practice and research

• Main Authors: LIEVENS, Filip, THORNTON III, George C.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2005
• Subjects: Human Resources Management; Organizational Behavior and Theory
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/5822; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/lkcsb_research/article/6821/viewcontent/actrends.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

In an assessment center, candidates who participate in various simulation exercises are evaluated by a multiple trained assessors on job-related dimensions. Examples of commonly used simulation exercises are role-plays, presentations, in-baskets, or group discussions. For nearly fifty years, assessment centers have remained a popular approach for managerial selection and development (Spychalski, Quinones, Gaugler, & Pohley, 1997), and they have been shown to have substantial validity (Thornton & Rupp, 2004). Assessment centers are also very much an international affair as they are used around the globe (Byham, 2001; Kudisch, Avis, Fallon, Thibodeaux, Roberts, Rollier, & Rotolo, 2001; Sarges, 2001). Over the last years, several innovative trends have emerged in assessment center practice. At the same time, various scholars (e.g., Arthur, Woehr, & Maldegen, 2000; Arthur, Day, McNelly & Edens, 2003; Haaland & Christiansen, 2002; Kolk, Born, & Van der Flier, 2002; Lance, Newbolt, Gatewood, Foster, French, & Smith, 2000; Lievens & Conway, 2001; Lievens & Klimoski, 2001) have given a new impetus to assessment center research. The aim of this chapter is to inform both practitioners and researchers of these recent intriguing developments. In particular, we focus on developments in assessment center practice and research that occurred between the last five years (1998-2003).