The Journey of Forced Choice Measurement Over 80 Years: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

Over the past two decades, forced-choice (FC) measures have received considerable attention from researchers and practitioners in industrial and organizational psychology. Despite the growing body of research on FC measures, there has not yet been a comprehensive review synthesizing the diverse lines of research. This article bridges this gap by presenting a systematic review of post-2000 literature on FC measures, addressing ten critical questions, including: 1) validity evidence, 2) faking resistance, 3) FC IRT models, 4) FC test design, 5) FC measure development, 6) test-taker reactions and response processes, 7) measurement and predictive bias, 8) reliability, 9) computerized adaptive testing, and 10) random responding. The review adopts a historical perspective, tracing the development of FC measures and highlighting key empirical findings, methodological advances, current trends, and future directions. By synthesizing a substantial body of evidence across multiple research streams, this article serves as a valuable resource, providing insights into the psychometric properties, theoretical underpinnings, and practical applications of FC measures in organizational contexts such as personnel selection, development, and assessment.