Cross-Cultural Biodata: Toward a Common Ground

Cross-Cultural Biodata: Toward a Common Ground
Matthew Kerry
Amanda M. Dainis
Tracy Kantrowitz
April 27, 2012
Practical Meaning of Cross-Cultural Differences
Mixed model analysis

Calculation of the ICC using all five samples:
87% of the variance in biodata scores are attributed to within country differences
Calculation of the ICC, removing the Latin-American sample:
97% of the variance in biodata scores are attributed to within country differences

Some mean-level country differences are statistically significant but most variance is within country

Implications and Further Research
Translation efforts are necessary but insufficient to appropriately use biodata outside the US
Also need to account for cultural variations in types of experiences captured by biodata (example: availability of extracurricular activities in France?)

Further research should address the variability in validity coefficients across cultures
Chief consideration for use in hiring
Examine generalizability of empirical key outside of original use

Mean Differences Across Countries




Significant mean differences across countries
F (2, 21479) = 330.5, p = .00

Latin American sample scored significantly lower than the other four.
Australian sample scored significantly higher than the UK and US samples.
The French-Canadian sample was not significantly different than Australian, UK, or the US samples.
Sample Summary and Scale-level Descriptive Statistics





Country
N
 
M
 
SD
Aus
7,079 (6)
 
19.38
 
3.13
UK
1,212 (2)
 
18.63
 
3.28
Fre-Can
102 (3)
 
18.50
 
3.11
US
12,017 (40)
 
18.09
 
3.50
Latin-Am
1,074 (8)
 
15.95
 
3.55
Note. Values in parentheses indicate clients within-country.





Overview
Biographical data (biodata): Good predictor of performance across occupations and organizations (Schmidt & Hunter, 1998)
Criterion-Related Validity
Substantial US-based evidence:
Meta-analytic r = .29
Limited evidence to date outside the US
Single study in Australia, r = .37

What about across cultures?
Hinrichs et al. (1976): biodata scores generalized across Nordic countries
Dalassio et al. (1996): factor structure similarity across U.S. and U.K.

Current study extends findings on generalizability across five countries:
differences in test scores across cultures
comparisons of variability between and within countries
Biodata Instrument
15-item inventory
Measures academic and work history, work-related values and attitudes
Items harvested from Richardson, Bellows, & Henry Co (RBH; US-based firm) biodata item bank based on strong item-level validity with job performance

Weighted response options
Scored 0, 1, or 2

Example Item
The speed at which I usually work is:
Much faster than most people
Somewhat faster than most people
About the same as most people
Somewhat slower than most people
I am unable to tell





5

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© SHL 2012
January 20, 2017
Version 1.0
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