Job Analysis Research

The purpose of a job analysis is to identify the critical tasks and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed for successful job performance. To ensure that the job analysis reflects actual tasks performed by incumbents, the Test Validation and Construction (TV&C) Unit implements a content validation strategy to describe the content of the job. The content validation strategy will provide the information necessary to establish a link between job tasks and KSAs and selection-related processes and instruments (e.g., selection examinations, training objectives, performance appraisals).

The typical steps associated with the job analysis process are listed below. Each step is congruent with professional guidelines and legal standards. Not all steps are required in all cases. Additional explanation and rationale can be provided if needed to clarify each of these steps and associated tasks.

Review background information:

• Conduct project planning meeting(s)
• Identify and review relevant literature, research, etc.

Develop job content and structure:

• Interviews with incumbents and supervisors (i.e., subject matter experts [SMEs])
• Develop job audit questionnaire for interviews
• Conduct interviews with SMEs
• Transcribe and organize interview information
• Develop preliminary list of task and knowledge, skill, and ability (KSAs) statements

Review task and KSAs statements:

• Conduct meeting(s) with SMEs
• Revise task and KSAs statements

Construct job analysis questionnaire:

• Develop demographic items and rating scales
• Prepare draft questionnaire
• Pilot questionnaire, if needed
• Prepare final questionnaire

Distribute job analysis questionnaire:

• Determine sampling plan
• Identify data entry format
• Analyze job analysis questionnaire information
• Enter/scan data
• Perform statistical analyses of questionnaire data

Review job analysis results:

• Conduct meeting with subject matter experts to review job analysis results
• Complete task / knowledge, skill, and ability linkage
• Identify content areas to assess
• Develop description of job

Prepare job analysis/validation report:

• Prepare and review draft of report with management team
• Revise report, as needed
• Prepare final/camera-ready copy of report

TV&C provides your organization with a job analysis report. The report serves as a user-friendly reference for managers and employees. The job analysis results may be used for:

• Selection protocol
• Training programs
• Performance management systems and employee development initiatives
• Compensation
• Strategic planning
• Other uses (e.g., revision of class specification, organizational analysis, etc.)

Depending on the organization's situation and needs, TV&C can perform customized analyses such as examining differences between similar jobs. Also, by analyzing other organization-specific characteristics, we illuminate how departmental objectives are achieved. For example, if we see that a certain faction of employees does not have the resources (e.g., credentials, training, equipment) to complete job tasks, we will call attention to the deficiency.

Explore further to learn about the many selection instruments designed to help you hire the most qualified candidates.

This is a link to the Job Analysis Discussion Archives.