Applicant Perceptions of Test Fairness: Integrating Justice and Self‐Serving Bias Perspectives

Abstract

The justice perspective is the current dominant framework for research on applicant perceptions of test fairness. Recently, an emerging perspective suggests that self‐serving bias mechanisms may be operative in the development of test fairness perceptions. Using data from 494 actual applicants to an entry‐level State Police Trooper position, this study integrates both the justice and self‐serving bias perspectives to achieve a better understanding of test fairness perceptions. Results from structural equation modeling show that perceived job‐relevance affects perceived fairness. In addition, test performance affects both perceptions indirectly through perceived performance.