Situations involve the evaluation of a range of information and factors in order to identify critical facts, which can be used to make judgments about what a person should do in response to a given situation. These situations are generally very similar across different types of assessments. For example, many college exams include a multiple-choice type section, while other types of assessments will feature a more complex format. The most common types of assessments in the US are based on a variety of cognitive processes such as inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning, analogical reasoning, and inductive sequencing.
Situational Judgment assessments provide an excellent opportunity for those who wish to increase their critical thinking and analytical skills. It is important to remember however, that there is a variety of methods available, and not all methods are equally effective or appropriate for all situations.
In the past, the general idea was that it was better to select an experienced test administrator over an inexperienced test administrator simply because of a “hiring bias” within the test administration. Today however, there are many more qualified professionals to choose from, and the hiring process has become much more transparent and merit-based. Many companies now employ multiple qualified and experienced personnel to perform their evaluation.
With a high level of competency, the best method of providing SJs is through a well-designed and detailed examination. However, if there are concerns about the exam structure or format, one may want to consider using a simulated exam that allows participants to practice the actual exam before taking it. This option is particularly useful for those who feel that the actual exam may not be as challenging as they would have hoped. In some cases, participants may even be able to choose a particular question or set of questions that will be more challenging than others.
There are several ways in which a mock exam can be administered, but the most common is to have a number of study groups that receive a simulated test at a predetermined time. During the mock exam, a participant can simulate how they would perform on the real exam in a number of different situations and then determine what areas of the real exam they would like to focus on, and how they would need to practice to ensure that their answers are accurate. This option can help participants focus on critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are necessary to prepare them for the real exam.
By providing simulated practice questions, it is possible to determine which areas may require the most attention, and to learn what questions or sets of questions are likely to challenge the participants’ ability to correctly answer the real exam. This knowledge is crucial if participants are to avoid making common mistakes. By taking the mock exam, the study group also learns to analyze the types of questions and how to determine where they need to concentrate their attention in order to receive the most valuable information.
It is important to remember that it is extremely important to use as much of the specific test material that is presented to the participants. For example, if an SJS requires the use of inductive reasoning, an individual may want to focus on the various examples and reasoning patterns that are presented, and the type of reasoning patterns they would most likely use when working on the actual exam. Once all of the real exam material has been learned, it is then possible to review what each student has learned, and evaluate the student’s performance to determine which aspects of the test were the most challenging.
