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would be illegal under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
In fact, this section is more akin to educationally-based testing to
determine if an individual possesses certain attitudes, traits and
characteristics found to be suitable for a state corrections officer.
Colleges use similar testing to assist their students with determining what career field they are most suited. This type of testing was
the focus of my doctoral studies.
The “Work Styles Questionnaire” on the LEAB consists of 102
statements which candidates are directed to read and quickly
determine how they “feel” the statement describes them. The
answers are provided on a 1 thru 5 scale as: (1) Strongly Disagree,
(2) Disagree, (3) Unsure, (4) Agree, and (5) Strongly Agree. This
section differs significantly from Part 1 as there is no one specific
answer that is right or wrong. The responses are scored in combination to create a score based on the EB Jacobs scoring algorithms established for the personality dimensions being assessed.
Yes, candidates are scored based on how they indicate they feel
the statements describe them. The type of statement a candidate
may see on a competitive, law enforcement personality assessment includes: “I’m known to change gears quickly.”
As with the Work Styles Questionnaire, there is no single right
answer. EB Jacobs has developed and validated sophisticated
algorithms to score this section. It is very important to note that
EB Jacobs has built a deception scale into the LEAB to detect
deception and penalize a candidate who dishonestly tries to pick
the “best” response.
Conclusion
Part 3: Life experience survey – Bio-data analysis
The LEAB is not considered difficult to pass, as at least 83 percent of candidates sitting for the examination will receive a passing score. That is not good enough. On a competitive
examination in the State of New Jersey, candidates generally need
to score in the top percentages to have a good chance at being
considered for the job.
Those who take the process seriously must prepare themselves
for the examination. It is irresponsible to sit for such an important
examination without giving yourself the best chance to achieve
the highest score possible. I strongly recommend that candidates
who are serious about their future in state corrections register for
one of my seminars and prepare for the upcoming exam. Choose
a convenient course location and register today at
www.ccstest.com/nj-entry-level-lee/ – d
This section of the LEAB consists of 96 questions (A thru E
options) which the candidates are directed to select the answer
choice that most accurately reports on the candidates’ life experiences. This section follows the concept that a person’s past history is the best indicator of what he or she will likely do in the
future.
Dr. David A. Paprota is the Chief of Police in Lacey Township and
the Executive Director of Critical Concepts & Strategies (CCS), an
entry level exam preparation company. Further information
may be obtained through his website at www.ccstest.com or
email questions to info@ccstest.com.
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