Generally a validation study is good for as long as it is useful. That is, is it doing what it is supposed to do? Some things which might suggest a re-examination of validity would include changes in job duties, job content, equipment, technology, etc.

In a survey of experts, Lefkowitz and Gebbia (1997) found that 70% of their experts surveyed believed that the life of a validation study was 5 years.

The Uniform Guidelines On Employee Selection Procedures (1978) state:

"Review of validity studies for currency....There are no absolutes in the area of determining the currency of a validity study. All circumstances concerning the study, including the validation strategy used, and changes in the relevant labor market and the job should be considered in the determination of when a validity study is outdated. (Sec. 5.K.)

In general, elapsed time is not the only criterion for determining whether a review of a validation should be undertaken. Other considerations should be the test content, test author, validation evidence, changes in jobs, technology and applicant populations. Then the review should proceed using the facts gathered.

REFERENCES

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Civil Service Commission, Department of Labor, and Department of Justice. (1978, August). Uniform guidelines on employee selection procedures. Federal Register, 43, 38290-38315.(Appendix A).

Leftkowitz, J., & Gebbia, M. (1997). The "shelf life" of a test validation study. Journal of Business and Psychology, 11, 381-397.