Why Wonderlic Assessments Deliver the Most Predictive Results - Whole-Person Multi-Measure Evidence

Sep 25, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai

The document argues that hiring decisions benefit from multi-measure, whole-person assessments that integrate cognitive ability, personality, and motivation into a single, easy-to-understand score. It summarizes decades of research showing cognitive ability predicts job performance, then highlights newer follow-up work concluding that assessments covering multiple aspects of employee potential are more predictive. It also states such holistic tools can enhance other hiring methods, including structured interviews, and improve confidence in matching talent to roles.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Research findings

Whole-person multi-measure assessments

Evidence from meta-analytic research

Impact on other hiring methods

Practical takeaway for hiring

Why Wonderlic Assessments Deliver the Most Predictive Results With so many assessment providers to choose from, it can be challenging to identify which one is right for your business. So what does the research say? Employee behavior is complex, and there are many paths to being successful on the job. That’s why it’s essential to measure talent holistically—and why Wonderlic’s "whole person” assessments combine three of the most predictive constructs into one easy-to-understand score. For decades, research has shown cognitive ability to be the construct most predictive of job performance*. But in recent years, follow-up research has shown that whole-person assessments that measure multiple aspects of employee potential are even more predictive of on-the-job success**. 88 Cognitive Ability Personality Motivation * Schmidt, F. L., & Hunter, J. E. (1998) . The validity and utility of selection methods in personnel psychology: Practical and theoretical implications of 85 years of research findings. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 262–274. **Sackett, P. R., Zhang, C., Berry, C. M., & Lievens, F. (2021) . Revisiting meta-analytic estimates of validity in personnel selection: Addressing systematic overcorrection for restriction of range. Journal of Applied Psychology. Advance online publication. Copyright © [2022 Wonderlic. | 877.605.9496 | ](2022 Wonderlic. | 877.605.9496 | wonderlic.com)[wonderlic.com](2022 Wonderlic. | 877.605.9496 | wonderlic.com) 1 New research: Multi-measure assessments are most predictive of job success. This follow-up research, conducted by I-O psychologist Paul Sackett and his colleagues in 2021, synthesized hundreds of studies to understand how supervisor ratings of their employees’ performance correlated to how they scored on assessments of key job-related constructs. And the assessments that correlated most highly with job performance—by a significant amount—were holistic, multimeasure assessments like WonScore. The correlation between assessment scoresand performance ratings Multi-measure assessmentscan also increase the predictive power of other hiring methods. Additionally, Sackett and colleagues synthesized hundreds of other studies to understand how common methods used to make hiring decisions (like the Structured Interview) correlate to supervisory ratings of job performance. While these methods work well on their own, multi-measure assessments like WonScore can easily supplement existing processes and improve prediction of job performance. The data is clear: Wonderlic’s“whole person”assessment is the most trustworthy approach to finding the best talent for every role and can easily improve your existing hiring processes. To learn more about how Wonderlic’s WonScore assessment can help you hire with more confidence, schedule time to speak with a talent expert here. Follow us on: Copyright © [2022 Wonderlic. | 877.605.9496 | ](2022 Wonderlic. | 877.605.9496 | wonderlic.com)[wonderlic.com](2022 Wonderlic. | 877.605.9496 | wonderlic.com) 2

FAQs

What is the core claim about why Wonderlic assessments are most predictive?

The document claims that Wonderlic’s whole-person assessments combine multiple predictive constructs into one score, making them more predictive of on-the-job success than approaches focused on fewer factors.

Which research supports the shift toward multi-measure assessment?

It references follow-up research from 2021 by I-O psychologist Paul Sackett and colleagues that synthesized hundreds of studies and found higher correlations for holistic, multimeasure assessments.

How can multi-measure assessments affect other hiring tools like structured interviews?

The document states that multi-measure assessments can supplement existing hiring processes and increase predictive power beyond standalone methods, including structured interviews.

Sep 25, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai