Incremental Validity of Empirically Keyed Biodata Scales Over Gma and the Five Factor Personality Constructs

The major purpose of this study was to determine whether empirically keyed, cross‐validated biodata scales accounted for incremental variance over that accounted for by the five factor model (FFM) of personality and GMA predictors. A concurrent validation study was employed using 376 employees in a clerical job (222 in the developmental sample and 154 in the cross‐validation sample). Results for the cross‐validation sample provided support for the hypothesis that biodata predictors accounted for substantial incremental variance beyond that accounted for by the FFM predictors and GMA for 3 of the 4 criteria. Support was also found for the hypothesized zero‐order correlations between GMA, FFM, and biodata predictors and the 4 criteria. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.