Criterion Deficiency occurs when a performance measure is reliable but has low validity because it misses important aspects of performance.

Criterion Deficiency occurs when a performance measure is reliable but has low validity because it misses important aspects of performance.

• A. It is always valid
• B. May result in a job performance measure having low validity even though it is reliable
• C. It is unrelated to measurement quality
• D. It measures all important aspects well

Answer: (B)

Criterion deficiency occurs when a performance measure is reliable but fails to capture important aspects of the true performance criterion, so its validity is limited. Because essential facets aren’t included, the measure can be consistent across raters or over time yet still not adequately reflect overall job performance. For example, a rating that consistently measures speed but ignores quality, teamwork, and initiative would yield a dependable score but a weak relationship to the full performance standard. This is why a measure can be reliable and still have low validity due to deficiency.

Criterion deficiency occurs when a performance measure is reliable but fails to capture important aspects of the true performance criterion, so its validity is limited. Because essential facets aren’t included, the measure can be consistent across raters or over time yet still not adequately reflect overall job performance. For example, a rating that consistently measures speed but ignores quality, teamwork, and initiative would yield a dependable score but a weak relationship to the full performance standard. This is why a measure can be reliable and still have low validity due to deficiency.