Much of my research focuses on the construct and predictive validity of situational judgment tests (SJTs). In addition to successfully predicting job performance in a wide variety of occupations, in the Motowidlo Lab we have also focused on identifying the antecedents of knowledge measured by SJTs. Thus far, we have implicated personality, values, and emotional intelligence as correlates of job knowledge.
We have also created several single-response SJTs, which are simplified versions of traditional, multiple-response SJTs. Whereas traditional SJTs present test-takers with a situation and ask respondents to choose the best behavioral response option from a list, single-response SJT items are comprised of short behavioral episodes. Respondents are instructed to rate each behavioral episode in terms of its effectiveness using a Likert scale. This format is much simpler and less costly to develop than traditional, multiple-response versions and has proved useful in predicting job performance in several different professions.
In addition to exploring straightforward job knowledge and job performance, I am also interested in investigating the individual difference antecedents and situational factors that affect ethical and unethical behavior. More specifically, I hope to identify what causes people to take undue credit or blame when working on a group task.