Skip to main content

Role Analysis: The Foundation for Selection Systems

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Selection and Recruitment in the Healthcare Professions

Abstract

Selection into healthcare professions internationally is often highly competitive, with high stakes for the individual, organization, and public. Ensuring that selection processes are valid, reliable, and fair to all applicants is, therefore, crucial across healthcare professions. Research has consistently shown that the cornerstone of effective selection is identifying selection criteria through role analysis studies. This chapter draws upon the latest international role analysis research, while providing practical case material on the application of role analyses and their outputs, within a range of healthcare professions. The authors highlight the benefits of the use of role analysis, and discuss how the outputs of this method can be used to improve the validity of selection processes. The chapter concludes with an exploration of the future of role analysis research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Arnold, J., Randall, R., Patterson, F., Silvester, J., Robertson, I., Cooper, C., … Den Hartog, D. (2016). Work psychology: Understanding human behaviour in the workplace (6th ed.). Essex: Pearson Education Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ash, R. A. (1998). Job analysis in the world of work. In S. Gael (Ed.), The Job analysis handbook (pp. 3–13). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, W., Jr., Alliger, G. M., Wilson, M. A., & Gibson, S. G. (2013). Concluding thoughts: Challenges and opportunities in work analysis. In M. A. Wilson, W. Bennett, Jr., S. G. Gibson, & G. M. Alliger (Eds.). The handbook of work analysis: Methods, systems, applications and science of work measurement in organizations (pp. 741–747). New York: Routledge Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brannick, M. T., Cadle, A., & Levine, E. L. (2012). Job analysis for KSAOs, predictor measures, and performance outcomes. In N. Schmitt (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of personnel assessment and selection (pp. 119–146). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breaugh, J. A. (2017). The contribution of job analysis to recruitment. In H. Goldstein & J. Passmore (Eds.), The Wiley Blackwell handbook of the psychology of recruitment, selection and employee retention (pp. 12–28). Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • British Medical Association. (2017). Physician associates in the UK. London: British Medical Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke, R. J., & Ng, E. (2006). The changing nature of work and organizations: Implications for human resource management. Human Resource Management Review, 16(2), 86–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campion, M., Fink, A., Ruggeberg, B., Carr, L., Phillips, G., & Odman, R. (2011). Doing competencies well: Best practices in competency modelling. Personnel Psychology, 64, 225–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health. (2010). Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS. London: DoH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dierdorff, E. C., & Wilson, M. A. (2003). A meta-analysis of job analysis reliability. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(4), 635–646.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drucker, P. F. (1987, August 2). Workers hands bound by tradition. Wall Street Journal, 18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farr, J. L., & Tippins, N. T. (2013). Handbook of employee selection. New York: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Flanagan, J. C. (1954). The critical incident technique. The Psychological Bulletin, 51, 327–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, H., & Passmore, J. (2017). The Wiley Blackwell handbook of the psychology of recruitment, selection, and employee retention. Chichester, UK: Wiley Blackwell.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gutman, A. (2000). EEO law and personnel practices (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Keeney, S., Hasson, F., & McKenna, H. (2011). The Delphi technique in nursing and health research. Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Koch, A., Strobel, A., Miller, R., Garten, A., Cimander, C., & Westhoff, K. (2012). Never use one when two will do: The effects of a multi-perspective approach on the outcome of job analyses using the critical incident technique. Journal of Personnel Psychology, 11, 95–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koczwara, A., Patterson, F., Zibarras, L., Kerrin, M., Irish, B., & Wilkinson, M. (2012). Evaluating cognitive ability, knowledge tests and situational judgement tests for postgraduate selection. Medical Education, 46, 399–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kreiter, C. D., & Axelson, R. D. (2013). A perspective on medical school admission research and practice over the last 25 years. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 25, 50–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lance, C. E., Kavanagh, M. J., & Brink, K. E. (2002). Retraining climate as a predictor of retraining success and as a moderator of the relationship between cross-job retraining time estimates and time to proficiency in the new job. Group and Organization Management, 27(2), 294–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGuire, C., Rankin, J., Matthews, L., Cerinus, M., & Zaveri, S. (2016). Improving the quality of the NHS workforce through values and competency-based selection. Nursing Management, 23(4), 26–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie, J. F., Dennis, D., Auld, M. E., Lysoby, L., Doyle, E., Muenzen, P. M., …, Kusorgbor-Narh, C. S. (2016). Health education specialist practice analysis 2015 (HESPA 2015) process and outcomes. Health Education & Behavior, 43(3), 286–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgeson, F. P., & Dierdorff, E. C. (2011). Work analysis: From technique to theory. In S. Zedeck (Ed.), APA handbook of industrial and organizational psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 3–41). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naidoo, S., Lopes, S., Patterson, F., Mead, H. M., & Macleod, S. (2016). Can colleagues’, patients’ and supervisors’ assessments predict successful completion of postgraduate medical training? Medical Education, 51(4), 423–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nikolaou, I., & Oostrom, J. K. (2017). Employee recruitment, selection, and assessment. Howe, UK: Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nursing and Midwifery Council. (2017, October 16). Retrieved from https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/nursing-associates/.

  • Olian, J. D., & Rynes, S. L. (1991). Making total quality work: Aligning organizational processes, performance measures, and stakeholders. Human Resource Management, 30(3), 303–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Ferguson, E., & Knight, A. (2013). Selection for medical education and training. In T. Swanwick (Ed.), Understanding medical education: Evidence, theory and practice (2nd ed., pp. 352–365). Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Ferguson, E., Lane, P., Farrell, K., Martlew, J., & Wells, A. (2000). A competency model for general practice: Implications for selection and development. British Journal of General Practice, 50, 188–193.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Ferguson, E., & Thomas, S. (2008). Using job analyses to identify core and specific competencies for three secondary care specialties: Implications for selection and recruitment. Medical Education, 42, 1195–1204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Howe, A., Tavabie, A., & Watson, M. (2013). Is UK general practice education and training now fit for purpose? British Journal of General Practice, 63, 567–568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Knight, A., Dowell, J., Nicholson, S., Cousans, F., & Cleland, J. (2016). How effective are selection methods in medical education and training? Evidence from a systematic review. Medical Education, 50(1), 36–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Lievens, F., Kerrin, M., Munro, N., & Irish, B. (2013). The predictive validity of selection for entry into postgraduate training in general practice: Evidence from three longitudinal studies. British Journal of General Practice, 63(616), 734–741.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Tavabie, A., Denney, M., Kerrin, M., Ashworth, V., & Koczwara, A. (2013). A new competency model for general practice: Implications for selection, training and careers. British Journal of General Practice, 63(610), 331–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, F., Zibarras, L., Carr, V., Irish, B., & Gregory, S. (2011). Evaluating candidate reactions to selection practices using organisational justice theory. Medical Education, 45, 289–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearn, M., & Kandola, B. (1993). Job analysis: A practical guide for managers. London: Institute of Personnel Managers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plint, S., & Patterson, F. (2010). Identifying critical success factors for designing selection processes into postgraduate specialty training: The case of UK general practice. Postgraduate Medicine, 86, 323–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, C., Clark, T., Burgess, A., Frommer, M., Grant, M., & Mossman, K. (2014). The validity of a behavioural multiple-mini-interview within an assessment centre for selection into specialty training. BMC Medical Education, 14(1), 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, I., & Smith, M. (2001). Personnel selection. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 74, 441–472.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, G., & Wright, G. (1999). The Delphi technique as a forecasting tool: Issues and analysis. International Journal of Forecasting, 15, 353–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez, J., & Levine, E. (1999). Is job analysis dead, misunderstood, or both? New forms of work analysis and design. In A. I. Kraut & A. K. Korman (Eds.), Evolving practices in human resource management (pp. 43–68). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez, J., & Levine, E. (2012a). The rise and fall of job analysis and the future of work analysis. Annual Review of Psychology, 63, 397–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez, J., & Levine, L. (2012b). Evaluating work analysis in the 21st century. In M. Wilson, W. Bennett, Jr., S. Gibson, & G. Alliger‬ (Eds.). The handbook of work analysis: Methods, systems, applications and science of work measurement in organizations (pp. 127–138). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schabracq, M. J., & Cooper, C. L. (2000). The changing nature of work and stress. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 15(3), 227–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, P. (2008). Job analysis for a changing workplace. Human Resource Management Review, 18, 87–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steurer, J. (2011). The Delphi method: An efficient procedure to generate knowledge. Skeletal Radiology, 40(8), 959–961.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Máire Kerrin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Kerrin, M., Mossop, L., Morley, E., Fleming, G., Flaxman, C. (2018). Role Analysis: The Foundation for Selection Systems. In: Patterson, F., Zibarras, L. (eds) Selection and Recruitment in the Healthcare Professions. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94971-0_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics