In previous articles, we discussed the basic concepts of gamification and game-based assessments. An important point to recall is that gamification can be seen as lying on a continuum and is therefore not just an on/off application of gaming principles. Instead, assessments vary in the degree to which they apply gaming concepts, from surface-level to more integrated, game-centric applications.
While research on gamified assessments is still scant, we are cautiously optimistic that they hold great promise for the future of assessments. Gamified assessments are especially likely to make an impact in environments where:
- There is a need for increased candidate engagement
- Clients seek a more immersive assessment experience
- Clients require a drastic decrease the time taken between recruitment and selection
- Millennial or game-socialized audiences are the primary talent pool targeted
When we first looked at gamified assessments here at TTS, we wanted to balance the need for novelty in assessment approaches with the more important requirement of using rigorous, evidence-based selection methods that really help our clients make better talent decisions. One of the first steps in this approach was to look at credible and science-first tool providers.
We were therefore delighted that one of our existing assessment partners, cut-e (an Aon company), have had a long track-record in applying game concepts to their assessments.
Cut-e’s innovative assessment design philosophy make them ideal partners in bringing gamified assessments to local markets. An additional advantage: cut-e has been involved in gamified assessments and bringing them to market well before gamification was even a popular talking point in the organizational assessment field.
Beginnings: The cut-e scales assessments
It is perhaps not surprising that cut-e is at the leading edge of game-based assessments. Their regular suite of assessments, notably the scales aptitude tests, have long been forerunners of applying gaming principles to traditional psychometric assessments. Setting them apart from more traditional cognitive assessment approaches, cut-e have developed purpose-made mobile / smartphone assessment solutions that closely resemble popular gaming applications. Key amongst these are their multi-tasking, eye-hand coordination, and visual-spatial reasoning tests.
Especially important is the robust characteristics of the scales assessments: they are as reliable and valid as traditional cognitive measures that preceded them.
Next steps: chatAssess gamified SJTs
Building on their success at bringing innovate and novel assessment to market, cut-e turned their attention to situational judgement tests (SJTs). These contextually-sensitive assessments have long been useful additions to IO Practitioners’ toolboxes, showing predictive validity comparable to work sampling and other selection instruments.
Cut-e took SJTs one step further by applying real-world digital messaging applications to the traditional SJT format. Thus, chatAssess was born.
Using chatAssess, participants are exposed to SJTs which more closely resembled a gaming or social media application than a traditional, survey-style question format. Participants get to interact with fictional characters and establish conversations with avatars that replace conventional scenario-response SJT formats.
The future is now: cut-e’s smartPredict
Cut-e’s most recent development in the realm of gamified assessments is smartPredict, a fully mobile-first, gamified series of assessments that incorporate not only the unique features of smartphones in its design, but also applies gaming principles like leveling up, achievement rewards, and game-like interfacing to enhance participant experience.
Currently, smartPredict measures the following work-related abilities:
- Abstract logical reasoning
- Numeracy
- Complex planning ability
- Executive attention
smartPredict is the culmination of cut-e’s experience in bringing gamified assessments to market without sacrificing robusts, well-documented test design and development.
Currently, several of our clients are partnering with us to trial smartPredict within South African audiences—a vital first step in bringing these innovative assessments to a local market that is eager to adopt new approaches. Our research department will soon have more data to start the important phase of validation research and norming for SA populations.
If your organization is interested in being at the leading edge of gamified assessments and you would like to be a trial member of the smartPredict range of assessments, why not drop us a line at: info@tts-talent.com?