Fair play? Sex-, age-, and job-related correlates of performance in a computer-based simulation game

Abstract

Gamified and game-based assessments (GBAs) are increasingly used for personnel selection but there are concerns that males and younger applicants have an advantage in these assessments. However, hardly any research has addressed whether sex and age are related to GBA performance. Similarly, the criterion-related validity of GBAs is also not sufficiently confirmed. Therefore, we analyzed archival data from a high-stakes setting in which applicants completed a computer-based simulation game targeting complex problem solving. The analyses confirmed expectations for the present simulation game of better performance for males than for females and for younger than for older applicants. However, the effect sizes were small. Furthermore, performance in the current simulation game correlated with job-related performance as measured in an assessment center.