The present study examined the measurement equivalence of a second-order factor model of emotional intelligence (EI). Using scores for 921 job applicants obtained during a personnel selection process, measurement equivalence of the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) was tested across ethnic (Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics) and gender groups. Results (a) supported the four-dimension, second-order factor structure of EI and (b) indicated that scores on the WLEIS are comparable across gender and ethnic groups. Findings are discussed in the context of applied and research-based relevance.

Results from a survey of 107 organizations suggested that the organizational process of bench-marking mediates the effects of munificence on high-involvement human resource (HR) practices. The weak relationship between munificence and HR practices observed in past studies might be explained by the failure to account for this organizational process. Implications for HR managers and practitioners interested in the role that benchmarking plays in organizations are highlighted.

The present work examines applicant reactions to a test of emotional intelligence (EI) using an organizational sample of 334 job applicants. Results indicated that Blacks had higher face validity and opportunity to perform perceptions of EI than Whites, but that Whites performed significantly better than Blacks on the EI test. Although exploratory analyses revealed that test performance was positively related to test reactions, we also found that the magnitude of this relationship differed between Blacks and Whites for opportunity to perform perceptions. We discuss our findings by offering practical advice for organizations considering or using a measure of EI for selection and assessment.

PurposeAlthough affective accounts of organizational justice theory have been offered, suggesting a role played by trait affectivity dimensions – trait positive affectivity (TPA) and trait negative affectivity (TNA) - in shaping applicant reactions to selection procedures, research in this area relies on cognitive information processing accounts of justice perceptions. Thus, the role played by TPA and TNA in shaping applicant reactions is an underexplored area. This study explicates and tests the role of TPA and TNA in shaping reactions.Design/methodology/approachThe authors carried out a three-wave field study of police job applicants, measuring TPA and TNA before testing and applicant justice perceptions and recommendation intentions pre-feedback and post-feedback.FindingsTPA, but not TNA, was positively associated with justice perceptions and recommendation intentions. Mediation analyses suggested that the TPA-recommendation intentions relationship was mediated through justice perceptions.Practical implicationsRecruiting high TPA applicants can benefit future applicant pools due to enhanced recommendation intentions. High TPA applicants react more favorably to positive features; thus, procedures should conform to procedural justice rules so that favorable aspects exist for high TPA applicants to respond favorably towards.Originality/valueThe authors’ work is the first to integrate affective accounts of the justice perception formation process into applicant reactions research. Their work supports a role served by affect in shaping applicant fairness perceptions and provides novel and important insights for both theory and practice.

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