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Browsing by Author "Hickman, Louis"

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    Automatic scoring of speeded interpersonal assessment center exercises via machine learning: Initial psychometric evidence and practical guidelines
    Hickman, Louis; Herde, Christoph N.; Lievens, Filip; Tay, Louis (Wiley, 2023-02)
    Assessment center (AC) exercises such as role-plays have established themselves as valuable approaches for obtaining insights into interpersonal behavior, but they are often considered the “Rolls Royce” of personnel assessment due to their high costs. The observation and rating process comprises a substantial part of these costs. In an exploratory case study, we capitalize on recent advances in natural language processing (NLP) by developing NLP-based machine learning (ML) models to investigate the possibility of automatically scoring AC exercises. First, we compared the convergent-related validity and contamination with word count of ML scores based on models that used different NLP methods to operationalize verbal behavior. Second, for the model that maximized convergence while minimizing contamination with word count (i.e., a model that used both n-grams and Universal Sentence Encoder embeddings as predictors), we investigated the criterion-related validity of its scores. Third, we examined how the interrater reliability of the AC role-play scores affects ML model convergence. To do so, we applied seven NLP methods to 96 assessees' transcriptions and trained 10 sets of ML models across 18 speeded AC role-plays to automatically score assessee performance. Results suggest that ML scores recovered most of the original variance in the overall assessment ratings, and replacing one or more human assessors with ML scores maintained criterion-related validity. Additionally, ML models seemed to exhibit higher convergence when assessors consistently detected and utilized observable behaviors to make ratings (i.e., when interrater reliability was higher). Finally, we provide a step-by-step guide for practitioners seeking to implement ML scoring in ACs.
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    Using artificial intelligence to assess personal qualities in college admissions
    Lira, Benjamin; Gardner, Margo; Quirk, Abigail; Stone, Cathlyn; Rao, Arjun; Ungar, Lyle; Hutt, Stephen; Hickman, Louis; D'Mello, Sidney K.; Duckworth, Angela L. (AAAS, 2023-10-13)
    Personal qualities like prosocial purpose and leadership predict important life outcomes, including college success. Unfortunately, the holistic assessment of personal qualities in college admissions is opaque and resource intensive. Can artificial intelligence (AI) advance the goals of holistic admissions? While cost-effective, AI has been criticized as a "black box" that may inadvertently penalize already disadvantaged subgroups when used in high-stakes settings. Here, we consider an AI approach to assessing personal qualities that aims to overcome these limitations. Research assistants and admissions officers first identified the presence/absence of seven personal qualities in n = 3131 applicant essays describing extracurricular and work experiences. Next, we fine-tuned pretrained language models with these ratings, which successfully reproduced human codes across demographic subgroups. Last, in a national sample (N = 309,594), computer-generated scores collectively demonstrated incremental validity for predicting 6-year college graduation. We discuss challenges and opportunities of AI for assessing personal qualities.