Selection systems can never be 100% valid. Some degree of error in assessment will always enter into every system. Statisticians distinguish between two types of errors. Alpha or Type I error (“false positive”) means making a job offer to someone whom your selection system tells you will be a great productive employee, only to find out later that he/she is not what you expected. Call this “taking some bad with the good.” Beta or Type II error (“false negative”) means NOT making a job offer to someone whom your selection system shows you SHOULDN’T hire, only to find out later that he/she would have been a great employee. Call this “losing some good with the bad. Provide an example of a selection situation where you would rather make an alpha error & an example of a different situation where you would rather make a beta error. Elaborate on why you would rather err in these different ways. What internal & external factors would lead you to be more willing to lean toward one or the other?
