A comparative validation study of the behavioral description interview and situational interview

Abstract

Behavioral Description and Situational questions were developed based on a critical incident job analysis of initial level military training. Interviewers were 12 Military Career Counsellors (MCCs) and the interviewees were 53 Canadian Forces applicants. All were interviewed using the traditional interview and the Behavioral Description Interview (BDI), 20 were also interviewed using the Situational Interview (SI), and 15 independent ratings of the BDI responses were also obtained. The criterion measure for all of the interviews was a specifically designed rating form based on the same dimensions identified in the critical incident analysis. The BDI was found to be valid and reliable (r =.44, p<.01; interrater reliability .69, p <.01). Neither the SI nor the traditional interview produced significant validities. Small sample size and methodological problems may have affected the results of the SI, but other factors such as the nature of the success criteria and experience level of the applicant population may also have had an impact.