An Initial Validation of Developmental Assessment Centers as Accurate Assessments and Effective Training Interventions

This article takes a critical look at the various forms of validity evidence that can be marshaled to support the effectiveness of a developmental assessment center (DAC) program. Using the holistic view of validity (American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, & American Council on Measurement in Education, 1999; Binning & Barrett, 1989; Messick, 1998; Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 2003) as well as Kirkpatrick's (1976) taxonomy of training outcomes, we discuss how DACs can be validated in terms of both their assessment accuracy and their effectiveness as training interventions. Types of evidence include appropriate content; internal structure; relationships with other variables; social consequences; and reactions, learning, behavioral, and results criteria. Evidence from many of these categories is then provided from two operational DACs. Results indicate that whereas DACs may be useful tools for developing managerial competencies, continued resea...