On the bias of Huffcutt and Arthur's (1995) procedure for identifying outliers in the meta-analysis of correlations

Dampening of positive affect and depression: A meta-analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships

Dampening responses to positive affect have been posited to confer vulnerability to depression, but longitudinal studies have not consistently shown dampening tendencies to predict follow-up depression. The cross-sectional, longitudinal, and cross-lagged relationships between dampening and depression were determined using meta-analytic methods. A systematic literature search of the PsycINFO and PubMed databases supplemented by Google Scholar yielded 60 samples suitable for inclusion in the cross-sectional analyses and 12 samples meeting criteria for the longitudinal analyses. In the first meta-analytic study to examine the relationship between dampening and depression, we found dampening to be associated with depression both cross-sectionally (r = .45) and prospectively (r = 0.34). Crucially, dampening at baseline remained a significant predictor of follow-up depression even after controlling for baseline levels of depression in cross-lagged analyses (β = .09). A bidirectional effect was also found, with baseline levels of depression predicting follow-up tendencies to engage in dampening (r = 0.36). This relationship was again diminished but remained significant after controlling for initial levels of dampening (β = .14). These results suggest that dampening responses to positive affect are a risk factor for the development of depression and highlight the importance of targeting dampening cognitions in treatment.

Perinatal mortality and its determinants in Sub Saharan African countries: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Despite decreasing overall perinatal and maternal mortality in high-income countries, perinatal and maternal health inequalities are persisting in Sub Saharan African countries. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects size of rates and determinants for perinatal mortality in Sub-Saharan countries.

Method

The sources for electronic datasets were PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Google, Google Scholar, and WHO data Library. Observational studies published in the English language from January 01, 2000, to May 30, 2019 were included. STROBE and JBI tools were used to include relevant articles for this review. We used a Comberehensive Meta-Analysis version 2 software for this analysis. The I² and Q- statistic values were used to detect the level of heterogeneity. The Kendall’s without continuity correction, Begg and Mazumdar rank correlation and Egger’s linear regression tests were used to detect the existence of significant publication bias (P <  0.10). The effects size were expressed in the form of point estimate and odds ratio with 95% CI (P <  0.05) in the random effect analysis using the trim and fill method.

Result

Twenty-one articles were included in this review. However, only fourteen studies reported the perinatal mortality rate. Among 14 studies, the observed and adjusted PMR was found to be 58.35 and 42.95 respectively. The odds of perinatal mortality among mothers who had no ANC visits was 2.04 (CI: 1.67, 2.49, P <  0.0001) as compared to those who had at least one ANC visit. The odds of perinatal mortality among preterm babies was 4.42 (CI: 2.83, 6.88, P <  0.0001). In most cases, heterogeneity was not evident when subgroup analyses were assessed by region, study design, and setting. Only perinatal mortality (P <  0.0001), antenatal care (P <  0.046) and preterm births (P <  0.034) showed a relationship between the standardized effect sizes and standard errors of these effects.

Conclusion

In general, engaging in systematic review and meta-analysis would potentially improve under-represented strategies and actions by informing policy makers and program implementers for minimizing the existing socioeconomic inequalities between regions and nations.

Recommendations for Reviewing Meta-Analyses in Organizational Research

This article encourages transparency in the reporting of meta-analytic procedures. Specifically, we highlight aspects of meta-analytic search, coding, data presentation, and data analysis where published meta-analyses often fall short in presenting sufficient information to allow replication. We identify opportunities where reviewers can request additional information or analyses that will enhance transparent reporting practices and facilitate the evaluation of quality in meta-analytic reporting. We focus on concerns specific to (or prevalent in) meta-analyses conducted in organizational research. In doing so, we reference a number of existing and emerging techniques, highlighting their contribution to meta-analysis while emphasizing key information reviewers may request. Our focus is primarily on meta-analyses, but secondary uses of meta-analytic data are also considered. We conclude by providing a checklist for reviewers in an effort to facilitate the review process as it pertains to the goals of transparency and replicability.

Effectiveness of community-based early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Research trials of early intervention (EI) programs for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) generally demonstrate medium-to-large gains, on average, compared with "treatment as usual," in different developmental domains. Almost all children with ASD receive their treatment through community-based services, however, and studies suggest that evidence-based interventions rarely make their way into community practice. Understanding the effectiveness of community-based EI and factors associated with these effects is the first step in developing strategies for wide-scale implementation of effective EI.

METHODS

Studies of community-based EI for children with ASD were identified through a systematic search. Changes in cognitive, communication, social, and adaptive functioning from pre-treatment to post-treatment were assessed using standardized mean gain scores. Effect sizes were estimated using random effects models. Moderators of interest included type of community EI program, year of publication, intervention duration, and sample selection. Moderator effects were assessed using analysis of variance of mixed-effects models and meta-regression analyses.

RESULTS

Forty-six groups from 33 studies met inclusion criteria (1,713 participants, mean age 37.4 months, 81.1% male). There were small but statistically significant gains in each of the four domains. Hedges's g ranged from 0.21 for adaptive behavior to 0.32 for communication outcomes, after removing outliers and correcting for publication bias. EI programs associated with universities and hospitals were superior, on average, to other community EI programs for cognitive and adaptive behavior outcomes. Intervention duration was negatively associated with effect sizes for communication and adaptive behavior outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that there remains a large gap between outcomes observed in community settings and those reported in efficacy trials.

Examining military population and trauma type as moderators of treatment outcome for first-line psychotherapies for PTSD: A meta-analysis

There is conflicting evidence as to whether military populations (i.e., veteran and active-duty military service members) demonstrate a poorer response to psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to civilians. Existing research may be complicated by the fact that treatment outcomes differences could be due to the type of trauma exposure (e.g., combat) or population differences (e.g., military culture). This meta-analysis evaluated PTSD treatment outcomes as a function of trauma type (combat v. assault v. mixed) and population (military v. civilian). Unlike previous meta-analyses, we focused exclusively on manualized, first-line psychotherapies for PTSD as defined by expert treatment guidelines. Treatment outcomes were large across trauma types and population; yet differences were observed between trauma and population subgroups. Military populations demonstrated poorer treatment outcomes compared to civilians. The combat and assault trauma subgroups had worse treatment outcomes compared to the mixed trauma subgroup, but differences were not observed between assault and combat subgroups. Higher attrition rates predicted poorer treatment outcomes, but did not vary between military populations and civilians. Overall, manualized, first-line psychotherapies for PTSD should continue to be used for civilians and military populations with various trauma types. However, greater emphasis should be placed on enhancing PTSD psychotherapies for military populations and on treatment retention across populations based on findings from this meta-analysis.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of interpersonal psychotherapy for perinatal women

BACKGROUND

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) has demonstrated efficacy for the prevention and treatment of perinatal depression. Previous systematic reviews have not evaluated the effects of IPT on other outcomes, most notably symptoms of anxiety and interpersonal functioning, or assessed moderators of treatment efficacy specific to IPT.

METHOD

A systematic review identified 28 studies assessing the efficacy of IPT during pregnancy or the first year postpartum. Random effects meta-analyses assessed the average change in outcomes (depression, anxiety, relationship quality, social adjustment, and social support) from pre- to post-treatment, the difference in the change in outcomes between treatment and comparison conditions, and the difference in prevalence of depressive episodes between treatment and comparison conditions. Study, intervention, and sample characteristics were evaluated as potential moderators of effect sizes.

RESULTS

In prevention studies, IPT was effective for reducing depressive symptoms and the prevalence of depressive episodes. In treatment studies, IPT reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety and improved relationship quality, social adjustment and social support. Few significant moderators were identified, and results of moderation analyses were inconsistent across outcomes.

LIMITATIONS

There are insufficient studies to evaluate the effects of preventive IPT on anxiety and interpersonal outcomes. Analyses of potential moderators were limited by the number of studies available for subgroup comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS

IPT is an effective preventive intervention for perinatal depression. IPT is clearly effective for treating depressive symptoms and promising as a treatment for anxiety and improving interpersonal functioning. Further research is necessary to assess whether adaptations to IPT enhance its efficacy.

A Meta-Analysis of Gender Proportionality Effects on Job Performance

Critical mass theory and the tokenism hypothesis propose that females’ job performance is adversely affected by perceptions and experiences that stem from females comprising a smaller proportion of organizations than males. Although belief in the gender token effect appears to be widely held, empirical evidence of this effect is relatively scarce; furthermore, the evidence that does exist is somewhat inconsistent. The purpose of the present study was to provide a meta-analytic test of the gender token effect by examining the extent to which the proportion of females in organizations relates to male–female differences in job performance. Meta-analytic results based on data from 158 independent studies ( N = 101,071) reveal that (a) females tend to demonstrate higher job performance than males ( d = −.10), and (b) this difference does not appear to vary based on the proportion of females in organizations. We found similar results for subjective task performance (e.g., supervisory ratings), organizational citizenship behaviors, and objective task performance (e.g., sales). Overall, this study’s results demonstrate almost no support for the gender token effect on job performance, which challenges the prevailing assumptions of critical mass theory and the tokenism hypothesis.

Is low positive emotionality a specific risk factor for depression? A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies

Depression is well known to share a negative cross-sectional relationship with personality constructs defined by positive emotion (positive affect, extraversion, behavioral activation). These Positive Emotionality (PE) constructs have been proposed to represent stable temperamental risk factors for depression, not merely current mood state. These constructs have also been proposed to increase risk specifically for depression, relative to anxiety. We performed a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies to examine the relationship of PE to depression (59 effect sizes) and anxiety (26 effect sizes). In cross-sectional analyses, PE constructs were negatively associated with depression (r = -.34) and anxiety (r = -.24). PE constructs also prospectively predicted depression (r = -.26) and anxiety (r = -.19). These relationships remained statistically significant, but were markedly attenuated, when baseline levels of depression (β = -.08) and anxiety (β = -.06) were controlled. Moreover, depression and anxiety were equally strong predictors of subsequent changes in PE (β = -.07 and -.09, respectively). These findings are consistent with theoretical accounts of low PE as a temperamental vulnerability for depression, but suggest that the prospective relationship of PE to depression may be weaker and less specific than previously assumed. (PsycINFO Database Record

Apples and Oranges (and Pears, Oh My!): The Search for Moderators in Meta-Analysis

The purpose of this article is to review current practices with respect to detection and estimation of moderators in meta-analysis and to develop recommendations that are driven by the results of this review and previous research. The first purpose was accomplished through a review of the meta-analyses published in Journal of Applied Psychology from 1978 to 1997. Results show, first, that practices with respect to both the execution of and the reporting of results from searches for moderators are highly variable and, second, that findings relevant for detection of moderators (e.g., percentage variance attributable to artifacts, SDρ, etc.) are often highly inconsistent with what has been suggested in the past. These practices held regardless of time of publication, specificity of the question addressed in the paper, and content area. Detailed suggestions for modifications of current practices are offered.

The Validity of Conscientiousness Is Overestimated in the Prediction of Job Performance

Introduction

Sensitivity analyses refer to investigations of the degree to which the results of a meta-analysis remain stable when conditions of the data or the analysis change. To the extent that results remain stable, one can refer to them as robust. Sensitivity analyses are rarely conducted in the organizational science literature. Despite conscientiousness being a valued predictor in employment selection, sensitivity analyses have not been conducted with respect to meta-analytic estimates of the correlation (i.e., validity) between conscientiousness and job performance.

Methods

To address this deficiency, we reanalyzed the largest collection of conscientiousness validity data in the personnel selection literature and conducted a variety of sensitivity analyses.

Results

Publication bias analyses demonstrated that the validity of conscientiousness is moderately overestimated (by around 30%; a correlation difference of about .06). The misestimation of the validity appears to be due primarily to suppression of small effects sizes in the journal literature. These inflated validity estimates result in an overestimate of the dollar utility of personnel selection by millions of dollars and should be of considerable concern for organizations.

Conclusion

The fields of management and applied psychology seldom conduct sensitivity analyses. Through the use of sensitivity analyses, this paper documents that the existing literature overestimates the validity of conscientiousness in the prediction of job performance. Our data show that effect sizes from journal articles are largely responsible for this overestimation.

Understanding individuals’ initial and continued use of online auction marketplaces

Purpose

– The current study aims to systematically review the existing literature, identify the main determinants that impact individuals’ perceptions, attitude, intention and behavior and meta-analytically evaluate their respective strength. Moreover, this study examines the specific mechanism through which more distal factors, such as trust, risk, experience and enjoyment influence individuals’ decision in the context of online auction markets. Finally, the moderating effects of contextual and methodological factors that could potentially influence the relationships are explored. During the past two decades, a large number of empirical studies examined the factors that hinder or foster individuals’ initial and continued acceptance of online auction marketplaces.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on the effect sizes reported, 91 studies, including 95 independent samples (N = 36.788), the current study utilizes bivariate meta-analysis, meta-analytic structural equation modeling and weighted least squares regression moderator analysis to examine the nature of the identified relationships, the mechanisms through which they operate and the boundary conditions under which they do or do not hold.

Findings

– The results show that trust and experience explain individuals’ initial usage intention, while risk and experience explain actual usage behavior, indicating that these variables are viable extensions to the technology acceptance model in the context of online auction marketplaces. The results also demonstrate that, once individuals participate in online auction markets, trust and enjoyment are important predictors of satisfaction, which, in turn, is the strongest determinant of loyalty intention. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that cultural context acts as moderator and, to some degree, explains the mixed empirical findings in prior research.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the existing literature by identifying the main determinants and their average direct and indirect effect on the individuals’ decisions in online auction marketplaces. The findings provide critical insights into the complex network of relationships which impact individuals’ perceptions, attitude, intention and behavior to initially and continuously use online auction marketplaces. Furthermore, the result contributes to the existing research by examining the effect of contextual and methodological boundary conditions – moderating factors that are difficult to test in primary studies.

A systematic review of the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for treating and preventing perinatal depression

BACKGROUND

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an empirically supported treatment for treating and preventing depression that has been widely studied in perinatal populations. Previous meta-analytic reviews of CBT interventions in this population have not investigated potential moderators of treatment efficacy specific to this type of therapy.

METHOD

Forty randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of CBT during pregnancy and the first year postpartum were included in the meta-analyses. Change in depressive symptoms from pre-treatment to post-treatment was assessed in both treatment and prevention trials, and the difference in prevalence of postpartum depressive episodes was assessed in prevention trials. Characteristics of included studies, interventions and samples were assessed as potential moderators of effect sizes.

RESULTS

CBT interventions resulted in significant reductions in depressive symptoms compared to control conditions in both treatment and prevention studies. In prevention studies, individuals who received CBT had significantly lower rates of postpartum depressive episodes compared to control conditions. In both treatment and prevention trials, interventions initiated during the postpartum period were more effective than antenatal interventions. In prevention trials, individually-administered treatments were more effective than group interventions and greater reductions in depressive symptoms were found in studies that included higher proportions of nonwhite, single, and multiparous participants.

LIMITATIONS

The methodological quality of included studies varied widely among studies eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

There is strong evidence that CBT interventions are effective for treating and preventing depression during the perinatal period. Further methodologically rigorous studies are needed to further investigate potential moderators of treatment efficacy.

Metaanalyse–praktische Schritte und Entscheidungen im Umsetzungsprozess

In diesem Beitrag wird der Durchführungsprozess metaanalytischer Techniken nach Hunter und Schmidt (2004) Schritt für Schritt beschrieben. In Form eines Tutoriums geben wir evidenzbasierte Empfehlungen, verweisen auf relevante Quellen und Hilfsmittel und bewerten alternative Vorgehensweisen in Bezug auf ihre Güte und Akzeptanz. Wir wenden uns an Forschende, die eine Metaanalyse mit der Besonderheit der Artefaktkorrekturen nach Hunter und Schmidt durchführen wollen und geben Anregungen für die Verbreitung metaanalytischer Ergebnisse sowohl im Wissenschaftskontext als auch im Austausch mit Praktikern.

Preventing postpartum depression: a meta-analytic review

This meta-analysis assessed the efficacy of a wide range of preventive interventions designed to reduce the severity of postpartum depressive symptoms or decrease the prevalence of postpartum depressive episodes. A systematic review identified 37 randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials in which an intervention was compared to a control condition. Differences between treatment and control conditions in the level of depressive symptoms and prevalence of depressive episodes by 6 months postpartum were assessed in separate analyses. Depressive symptoms were significantly lower at post-treatment in intervention conditions, with an overall effect size in the small range after exclusion of outliers (Hedges' g=0.18). There was a 27% reduction in the prevalence of depressive episodes in intervention conditions by 6 months postpartum after removal of outliers and correction for publication bias. Later timing of the postpartum assessment was associated with smaller differences between intervention and control conditions in both analyses. Among studies that assessed depressive symptoms using the EPDS, higher levels of depressive symptoms at pre-treatment were associated with smaller differences in depressive symptoms by 6 months postpartum. These findings suggest that interventions designed to prevent postpartum depression effectively reduce levels of postpartum depressive symptoms and decrease risk for postpartum depressive episodes.

Drivers and outcomes of team psychological empowerment

Using meta-analysis and structural equation modeling, we examine the unique and combined relationships between team psychological empowerment, its antecedents, and outcomes. First, we seek to extend the team psychological empowerment nomological network by including team members’ affective reactions as an outcome. In addition, we consider the moderating influence of team type, how empowerment was measured, and team size on the relationships between team psychological empowerment, its antecedents, and outcomes. Second, we use our analytical results to clarify a number of theoretical perspectives, but more importantly to offer suggestions regarding where research in the area of team psychological empowerment should proceed. Finally, in keeping with the broader team effectiveness framework, we present our recommendations for future research using the following categories: (a) antecedents, (b) outcomes, (c) moderators, (d) mediators, and (e) additional directions for future research.

Performance of a proportion-based approach to meta-analytic moderator estimation: results from Monte Carlo simulations

This research investigates the performance of a proportion-based approach to meta-analytic moderator estimation through a series of Monte Carlo simulations. This approach is most useful when the moderating potential of a categorical variable has not been recognized in primary research and thus heterogeneous groups have been pooled together as a single sample. Alternative scenarios representing different distributions of group proportions are examined along with varying numbers of studies, subjects per study, and correlation combinations. Our results suggest that the approach is largely unbiased in its estimation of the magnitude of between-group differences and performs well with regard to statistical power and type I error. In particular, the average percentage bias of the estimated correlation for the reference group is positive and largely negligible, in the 0.5-1.8% range; the average percentage bias of the difference between correlations is also minimal, in the -0.1-1.2% range. Further analysis also suggests both biases decrease as the magnitude of the underlying difference increases, as the number of subjects in each simulated primary study increases, and as the number of simulated studies in each meta-analysis increases. The bias was most evident when the number of subjects and the number of studies were the smallest (80 and 36, respectively). A sensitivity analysis that examines its performance in scenarios down to 12 studies and 40 primary subjects is also included. This research is the first that thoroughly examines the adequacy of the proportion-based approach. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A meta-analysis of anxiety symptom prevention with cognitive-behavioral interventions

This meta-analysis assessed efficacy of cognitive-behavioral interventions in preventing anxiety symptoms. A systematic review identified 15 independent pretest-posttest randomized or quasi-randomized efficacy trials for analysis. At posttest, intervention groups demonstrated significantly greater symptom reduction compared to control groups resulting in weighted mean effect sizes (Hedges' g) of 0.25 for general anxiety, 0.24 for disorder-specific symptoms, and 0.22 for depression after the removal of outliers. These effects appeared to diminish over 6- and 12-month follow-up. Exploratory moderator analyses indicated that individually administered media interventions were more effective than human-administered group interventions at preventing general anxiety and depression symptoms. Implications of current findings are discussed with attention to existing gaps in the literature.

A meta-analysis of treatments for perinatal depression

This meta-analysis assessed efficacy of pharmacologic and psychological interventions for treatment of perinatal depression. A systematic review identified 27 studies, including open trials (n=9), quasi-randomized trials (n=2), and randomized controlled trials (n=16) assessing change from pretreatment to posttreatment or comparing these interventions to a control group. Uncontrolled and controlled effect sizes were assessed in separate meta-analyses. There was significant improvement in depressive symptoms from pretreatment to posttreatment, with an uncontrolled overall effect size (Hedges' g) of 1.61 after removal of outliers and correction for publication bias. Symptom levels at posttreatment were below cutoff levels indicative of clinically significant symptoms. At posttreatment, intervention groups demonstrated significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms compared to control groups, with an overall controlled effect size (Hedges' g) of 0.65 after removal of outliers. Individual psychotherapy was superior to group psychotherapy with regard to changes in symptoms from pretreatment to posttreatment. Interventions including an interpersonal therapy component were found to have greater effect sizes, compared to control conditions, than interventions including a cognitive-behavioral component. Implications of the findings for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

Psychosocial stress during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes: a meta-analytic review

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between psychosocial stress in pregnancy and negative perinatal outcomes and to identify key moderators of this relationship. To evaluate this relationship, a meta-analytic review was conducted of studies that prospectively assessed the relationship between psychosocial stress in pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. A total of 35 studies, written or published between 1991 and 2009, involving 31,323 women were located. The overall association between psychosocial stress and negative perinatal outcomes was significant, but negligibly small in size (r (35) = -0.04, CI = -0.08, -0.01). Examining specific perinatal outcomes, only the associations with neonatal weight (r (14) = -0.07, CI = -0.03, -0.01) and risk for low birth weight (r (5) = 0.07, CI = 0.03, 0.10) were statistically significant, but again, very small. Results support that psychosocial stress explains a negligible to very small amount of the variability in perinatal outcomes. Future research should focus on identifying other psychosocial and lifestyle variables that alone or in interaction with other factors explain larger amounts of the variability in perinatal outcomes. Future research should also examine whether psychosocial stress increases risk for negative outcomes in combination with other biomedical and psychosocial risk factors.

Meta-analyses of agreement between diagnoses made from clinical evaluations and standardized diagnostic interviews

Standardized diagnostic interviews (SDIs) have become de facto gold standards for clinical research. However, because clinical practitioners seldom use SDIs, it is essential to determine how well SDIs agree with clinical diagnoses. In meta-analyses of 38 articles published from 1995 to 2006 (N = 15,967 probands), mean kappas (z-transformed) between diagnoses from clinical evaluations versus SDIs were 0.27 for a broad category of all disorders, 0.29 for externalizing disorders, and 0.28 for internalizing disorders. Kappas for specific disorders ranged from 0.19 for generalized anxiety disorder to 0.86 for anorexia nervosa (median = 0.48). For diagnostic clusters (e.g. psychotic disorders), kappas ranged from 0.14 for affective disorders (including bipolar) to 0.70 for eating disorders (median = 0.43). Kappas were significantly higher for outpatients than inpatients and for children than adults. However, these effects were not significant in meta-regressions.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnostic agreement between SDIs and clinical evaluations varied widely by disorder and was low to moderate for most disorders. Thus, findings from SDIs may not fully apply to diagnoses based on clinical evaluations of the sort used in the published studies. Rather than implying that SDIs or clinical evaluations are inferior, characteristics of both may limit agreement and generalizability from SDI findings to clinical practice.

Trauma coping strategies and psychological distress: A meta-analysis

The identification of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies following traumatic events has been the subject of much scientific inquiry. The current study sought through meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between the use of approach and avoidance strategies (both problem-focused and emotion/cognitive focused) following trauma and psychological distress. Thirty-nine studies of coping following two types of traumatic events (interpersonal violence and severe injury) were retained in the meta-analysis. There was a consistent association between avoidance coping and distress, overall r = .37, but no association between approach coping and distress, overall r = -.03, but some important moderators existed. Implications of the results for future research regarding coping and trauma recovery are discussed.

The use of person-organization fit in employment decision making: An assessment of its criterion-related validity

Because measures of person-organization (P-O) fit are accountable to the same psychometric and legal standards used for other employment tests when they are used for personnel decision making, the authors assessed the criterion-related validity of P-O fit as a predictor of job performance and turnover. Meta-analyses resulted in estimated true criterion-related validities of .15 (k = 36, N = 5,377) for P-O fit as a predictor of job performance and .24 (k = 8, N = 2,476) as a predictor of turnover, compared with a stronger effect of .31 (k = 109, N = 108,328) for the more commonly studied relation between P-O fit and work attitudes. In contrast to the relations between P-O fit and work attitudes, the lower 95% credibility values for the job performance and turnover relations included zero. In addition, P-O fit's relations with job performance and turnover were partially mediated by work attitudes. Potential concerns pertaining to the use of P-O fit in employment decision making are discussed in light of these results.

Assessment of Adult Psychopathology: Meta-Analyses and Implications of Cross-Informant Correlations

Assessment of adult psychopathology relies heavily on self-reports. To determine how well self-reports agree with reports by "informants" who know the person being assessed, the authors examined 51,000 articles published over 10 years in 52 peer-reviewed journals for correlations between self-reports and "informants" reports. Qualifying correlations were found in 108 (0.2%) of the articles. When self-reports and informant reports were obtained with parallel instruments, mean cross-informant correlations were .681 for substance use, .428 for internalizing, and .438 for externalizing problems. When based on different instruments, the mean cross-informant correlation was .304. The moderate sizes of the correlations argue for systematically obtaining multi-informant data. National survey findings were used to illustrate practical ways to obtain and use such data.