The Impact of Assessment Centers and Their Outcomes on Participants' Self-Assessments

Abstract

A longitudinal study of the effects of attending an assessment center on candidates' self-assessments was carried out. Self-ratings of ability were collected immediately before, immediately after, and 6 months after an assessment center, and correlated with assessors' ratings of participants in the assessment event. Results show that there were marked differences in self-assessment accuracy between successful and unsuccessful candidates immediately post-assessment center, which persisted 6 months later after feedback had been received; unsuccessful candidates seem to have misjudged the effectiveness of their performance. The findings are discussed in relation to their implications for the use of assessment centers as an aid to development and for the way feedback procedures are handled.