Why was B-PAD developed?
B-PAD was developed to measure behavioral skills and abilities not readily measured by conventional methods and helps answer the critical question: “Can this person work effectively with people?” By assessing problem solving, interpersonal skills and ethical decision-making in a standardized process, B-PAD improves the weakest parts of traditional oral boards.
Who developed B-PAD?
Contributors include: David M. Corey, Ph.D., Psychologist, Dr. Gordon Wolf, Ph.D. Psychologist, Dr. Randy Rand Ed.D., Deirdre Conway Rand, Ph.D. ; Newark, California, Gresham, Oregon and Abilene, Texas, Police Departments. As a leading video-test publisher, B-PAD has created more than a traditional structured interview; this new process combines video-testing technology presenting real-life situations with traditional oral interviews that can assess a candidate’s spontaneous response to a situation.
What is B-PAD?
B-PAD is a test that requires about 20 minutes to administer during your standard oral board process. Instead of verbally asking the candidate “What if……?” questions, the candidates watch 3-4 short video scenarios. At the end of each scenario the panel asks scripted questions provided from the Guide Book. The panel then rates the responses based on standardized criteria.
Where is the B-PAD Oral Board used?
It is intended to enhance your current oral board process. Most agencies replace their “situational questions” with the B-PAD video scenarios.
What are the advantages of B-PAD video tests?
- Measures candidate’s ethical decision-making ability in stressful situations
- Identify candidates who can effectively resolve critical incidents. Candidates must use judgment to develop a plan and to communicate their plan for each situation.
- Improved standardization, fairness, and reliability over traditional oral boards
- Standardized testing and scoring avoid many shortfalls inherent in traditional oral boards
- Ethnicity, gender and prior job experience do not affect B-PAD results
- No special staff training for scoring and assessment processes
- Accurate simulation of real-world, on-the-job incidents
- Consistency - no variations in scenario descriptions
- Defensible. B-PAD has never been challenged in court and is often mentioned in court cases as an alternative selection process with no adverse impact for females or minorities
- B-PAD has a high degree of candidate acceptance.
- Saves time and money by efficiently screening large numbers of candidates.
- Low cost video public safety test
What is the Oral Board Guide Book?
The B-PAD Oral Board Guide Book provides comprehensive instructions for evaluating candidates, to include corresponding questions for the panel to ask following each scene the candidate has watched.
Can we change the questions that are provided in the Guide Book?
Yes, there is a form in the Guide Book to assist the agency in linking their questions to the competencies being measured.
What job descriptions do B-PAD test assess?
The B-PAD evaluates candidates suitable for entry or lateral level law enforcement, fire fighting, promotions, corrections, probation or communication dispatch positions.
What can a candidate do to prepare for their B-PAD Oral Board?
Candidates can go to the “Candidate Orientation Page" section of this website for a description of the B-PAD. B-PAD is not a test of department policies and procedures rather it measures a candidates judgment, common sense and ethics. No video samples are available to candidates.
What agencies and companies are using B-PAD now?
There are several hundred police, sheriff, fire, dispatch, corrections and probation departments using B-PAD throughout the U.S., Canada and Australia To find out what some police and fire agencies thought about B-PAD testing, see our selection of Articles from magazines and newspapers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Contact your B-PAD representative for a list of B-PAD clients.
Has B-PAD been challenged in court?
B-PAD has been used since 1992 as a pre-offer employment screen with over 50,000 candidates. No court challenges have yet been made. This is attributable to the absence of adverse impact and its established content and empirical validity. Candidates also perceive the test as fairer because it is so obviously job relevant.
How many scenes are on each DVD?
Three to four different scenes are used depending on the product.
How does B-PAD create the video scenarios?
Do I use the same scenes each year or how do I get new scenes?
With your annual lease, every year you will receive a different version with new scenes.
What do we have to do to conduct the Oral Board B-PAD test?
The B-PAD Oral Board test requires a minimal amount of planning and preparation. Using your existing oral boardroom you will provide a dvd player and t.v. monitor. Read more about this on the “How B-PAD Works page”
What do B-PAD tests NOT measure?
B-PAD does not test personality or job knowledge.
How is B-PAD different from other forms of testing?
B-PAD is different because it offers a standardized, structured and fair method for fairly assessing candidate behavior with a high degree of validity. Unlike live role-plays with actors, B-PAD scenarios are standardized and sample many different types of situations. See supporting research studies.
What happens in a B-PAD test?
How are B-PAD tests scored?
In-house staff members use standardized guidelines to score candidate responses. Read more about the B-PAD testing and scoring procedures.
What do we have to do to conduct B-PAD testing?
B-PAD requires a minimal amount of planning and preparation. Setting up the appropriate distraction-free room for your candidates is, of course, critical. You'll also have to ensure that a video player and TV/monitor are available.
Does candidate job experience or test practice affect B-PAD testing results?
We have monitored this carefully and tracked test-retest scores of candidates taking B-PAD in several surrounding jurisdictions and no such effect has been noted. There are many different test versions in use and scoring guidelines are kept secure, it appears that the primary reason we have not seen such an effect has to do with the nature of what B-PAD assesses. The ability to do well on B-PAD relates to how one communicates. People skills, such as empathy, for example, are learned early in life and are difficult to fake. Promotional B-PAD testing does take into account policies and procedures.
How much does B-PAD Oral Board cost?
B-PAD test prices are determined by your agency size. Contact the B-PAD Group for details at 1-800-424-BPAD.
How long will it take to receive the package?
You will receive your package from B-PAD within one week following your request for materials.
What will be in my package when I receive it?
In your package you will find a complete test package including the Oral Board Guidebook and DVD.
Why do I need to sign the Security Agreement?
This ensures that test security will be adhered to.
How long do I have to review the material (DVDs) before making a decision?
Your B-PAD representative will discuss your trial basis time frame with you, as to accommodate you and your departments needs.
Do I have to send the DVDs back?
Yes. If you/your department elects NOT to use B-PAD as a part of your hiring process, you will need to mail the DVD and Oral Board Guidebook back to us.