Personality Testing for Autistic Individuals: Potential Issues for Selection

• 成果类型: Article; Early Access
• 署名作者: Moon, Benjamin; Daljeet, Kabir N.; Bourdage, Joshua S.; McCrimmon, Adam W.
• 署名单位: Universite de Montreal; HEC Montreal; Universite de Montreal; University of Calgary; University of Calgary
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/apl0001413
• 发表日期: 2026
• 关键词: CROSS-CULTURAL COMPARISONS; Measurement invariance; ADVERSE IMPACT; FIT INDEXES; self; CONSCIENTIOUSNESS; integration; motivation; stakes; adults

摘要

Employment selection is a significant contributor to poorer employment outcomes for autistic individuals. However, the impact of conventional employment selection tools on autistic applicants is poorly understood, including the preemployment personality test. Drawing upon the realistic accuracy model and the HEXACO model of personality, we investigated contributors to measurement bias (i.e., noninvariance) and adverse impact (i.e., mean differences) against autistic individuals in self-report personality measures, which preemployment personality tests typically use. Participants in a multinational sample (N = 49,912) completed one of several language versions of the HEXACO-100. We then created a matched subsample (N = 2,898) equally comprised of formally diagnosed autistic individuals, self-identified autistic individuals, and allistic (i.e., nonautistic) individuals matched across several individual differences. Our findings suggested that preemployment personality tests may disadvantage both formally diagnosed and self-identified autistic individuals, not due to measurement noninvariance, but because of substantial mean trait differences likely leading to adverse impact, particularly with the traits of extraversion and conscientiousness. We largely replicated these findings across subsamples by regions of residence and a supplemental sample from the same platform, which also linked extraversion and conscientiousness with employment status. While we are not calling for a stoppage in the use of these tests, there is a need to evaluate how they are used in selection contexts to ensure fairness for autistic individuals.