National Firefighter Selection Inventory - NFSI
Encyclopedia
In the United States
, vocations within the public safety
sector, (i.e., firefighter
, sheriff
and police officer
, correctional officer, emergency medical services
including emergency medical technicians), often require Industrial and Organizational Psychology
employment testing
for initial employment and advancement throughout the ranks. The National Firefighter Selection Inventory - NFSI, is a national entry-level examination that was developed as an alternative to conventional firefighter written entrance examinations. It was developed by industrial organizational psychologist Fred Rafilson, Ph.D., CEO and Founder of I/O Solutions, Inc. or Industrial/Organizational Solutions Inc, referred to as IOS in the 2009 United States Supreme Court case, Ricci v. DeStefano
. Psychological testing
is a standard practice done by many fire departments throughout the United States.
The National Firefighter Selection Inventory - (NFSI), when used as a pre-employment screening tool, helps select qualified individuals for service as firefighters. A fundamental aspect of the NFSI is that its testing platform is an alternative to conventional firefighter written entrance examinations. Utilizing a comprehensive and compensatory model, the exam assesses not only individuals’ cognitive ability, but also their behavioral predispositions; job-related attitudes and motivation. The National Firefighter Selection Inventory displays no evidence of adverse impact against protected classes of individuals. This alternative testing model is well suited to predict success for all entry-level firefighter positions and to be in strict compliance with all federal, state and local testing guidelines and regulations.
Because NFSI scores contain both cognitive and behavioral orientation components, candidates who score at the top of the list have been shown through criterion-related validation studies to be more likely to be successful in additional hiring components. The exam reduces failure rates on interviews
, background checks, polygraph
examinations, psychological evaluations, and other costly employment hurdles., as well as success with on the job performance, than candidates ranked solely on the basis of a cognitive score.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, vocations within the public safety
Public Safety
Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters .-See also:* By nation...
sector, (i.e., firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
, sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
and police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
, correctional officer, emergency medical services
Emergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
including emergency medical technicians), often require Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Industrial and organizational psychology
Industrial and organizational psychology is the scientific study of employees, workplaces, and organizations. Industrial and organizational psychologists contribute to an organization's success by improving the performance and well-being of its people...
employment testing
Employment testing
Employment testing is the practice of administering written, oral or other tests as a means of determining the suitability or desirability of a job applicant...
for initial employment and advancement throughout the ranks. The National Firefighter Selection Inventory - NFSI, is a national entry-level examination that was developed as an alternative to conventional firefighter written entrance examinations. It was developed by industrial organizational psychologist Fred Rafilson, Ph.D., CEO and Founder of I/O Solutions, Inc. or Industrial/Organizational Solutions Inc, referred to as IOS in the 2009 United States Supreme Court case, Ricci v. DeStefano
Ricci v. DeStefano
Ricci v. DeStefano, 129 S. Ct. 2658, 2671, 174 L. Ed. 2d 490 is a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States arising from a lawsuit brought against the city of New Haven, Connecticut by twenty city firefighters alleging that the city discriminated against them with regard to promotions...
. Psychological testing
Psychological testing
Psychological testing is a field characterized by the use of samples of behavior in order to assess psychological construct, such as cognitive and emotional functioning, about a given individual. The technical term for the science behind psychological testing is psychometrics...
is a standard practice done by many fire departments throughout the United States.
The National Firefighter Selection Inventory - (NFSI), when used as a pre-employment screening tool, helps select qualified individuals for service as firefighters. A fundamental aspect of the NFSI is that its testing platform is an alternative to conventional firefighter written entrance examinations. Utilizing a comprehensive and compensatory model, the exam assesses not only individuals’ cognitive ability, but also their behavioral predispositions; job-related attitudes and motivation. The National Firefighter Selection Inventory displays no evidence of adverse impact against protected classes of individuals. This alternative testing model is well suited to predict success for all entry-level firefighter positions and to be in strict compliance with all federal, state and local testing guidelines and regulations.
Because NFSI scores contain both cognitive and behavioral orientation components, candidates who score at the top of the list have been shown through criterion-related validation studies to be more likely to be successful in additional hiring components. The exam reduces failure rates on interviews
Interviews
Interviews is:# the plural form of "interview"# a compilation album by Bob Marley & the Wailers, see Interviews # a C++ toolkit for the X Window System, see InterViews...
, background checks, polygraph
Polygraph
A polygraph measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions...
examinations, psychological evaluations, and other costly employment hurdles., as well as success with on the job performance, than candidates ranked solely on the basis of a cognitive score.