Wk 5

Part I SJI Success video (Completed 08/23/22) Transcript by Rev.com

Page 1 of 3

Nancy Volpe:

Thank you for taking time away from your SHRM learning system studying to join me in this first of two video series to help set you up for success with situational judgment item questions on your exam. This lesson presents an understanding of the source of the exam questions, namely the SHRM BASK and test- taking strategies and tips. Our two of the series will provide you with some hands-on practice with situational judgment items. The exam and the SHRM learning system are derived from the SHRM body of applied skills and knowledge, better known as the SHRM BASK. Which identifies nine key behavioral competencies and one technical competency. A behavioral competency focuses on using what you know and what you know how to do to perform competently as defined by the proficiency indicators for each of the nine behavioral competencies. You can find the SHRM BASK publication at the link noted in the bottom of the slide.

A technical competency focuses specifically on what you know or know how to do commonly referred to as the application of knowledge. The three knowledge domains of HR expertise are defined as the principles, practices, and functions of effective HR management. The domains people, organization, and workplace, are divided into 14 HR functional areas that describe the technical knowledge required to perform key HR activities. Situational judgment items will test your ability to solve problems and make decisions by demonstrating that you have the behavioral proficiency and technical knowledge to handle a resolve of workplace situations effectively by relying on best practice solutions as defined by the proficiency indicators in the SHRM BASK. Exam questions that are formatted as situational judgment items are based on real-world common problems encountered by most HR professionals. They are written and reviewed by panels of SHRM certified subject matter experts to ensure they are realistic, straightforward, and clearly presented.

There are a set of questions based on issues in the story. The exam presents 150 to 250 word stories, and either two, three, or four questions linked to the stories. A single story can test one, two, three, or four of the behavioral competencies in the SHRM BASK. Situational judgment questions test what competent behavior looks like according to best practice as specified by the proficiency indicators. They require you to use what you know to behave and perform proficiently. These types of questions require you to decide the best or most effective course of action to solve the challenge or issue presented in the question. Answer based on what you should do as defined by the SHRM BASK. Response options can present a range of behaviors or actions, responses that are least effective, somewhat effective, effective, and most effective. An effective response option is plausible, is stated clearly and concisely, is mutually exclusive in that it contains only a single course of action. It's within a range of least effective, somewhat effective, effective, and most effective, although they are not presented in any particular order. They also begin with an action verb.

There are two recommended approaches to situational judgment questions. The first approach suggested is to read the story first, then read the question and response options, proceed to apply the tips presented and identify the best correct answer, the most effective response. Another option is to read the question and response options first. Apply the tips presented and identify what you believe may be the best or keyed response. Then read the story to identify any supportive or conflicted information that you need to confirm your first choice or reconsider a different course of action that is more effective than your first choice. You can practice both of these approaches as you are preparing for the exam and see which one works best for you. Identify which approach results in you having higher levels of success and be sure to apply that in your actual exam. Let's learn some proven test taken strategies for navigating situational judgment items.

Strategy one is to read the question carefully and thoroughly and all the response options prior to making your selection. So often examinees will read a question and mistakenly focus on the wrong

This transcript was exported on Aug 23, 2022 - view latest version here.

Part I SJI Success video (Completed 08/23/22) Transcript by Rev.com

Page 2 of 3

concept leading them to answer the question wrong. To avoid this, read the question stem and ask yourself, what is the focus of this question? What is this question asking me to answer? What keywords are present here that I need to focus on to answer the question correctly? Which behavioral competency is being demonstrated in this question? Once you're focused on the keywords and/or the focus of the question, proceed to review all of your response options, you can even read the answer twice backwards, such as answer D, then C, then B, then A, to avoid rushing to judgment. For situational judgment items you are seeking the best or most effective course of action.

The second strategy is to read the question stem only and determine what the answer should be by recalling the proficiency indicators in the SHRM BASK. Deciding what the answer should be before looking at the choices available will minimize over-analyzing, which is a common experience with situational judgment test questions. When we overanalyze our question and answers, we consider information that is not necessary, that isn't there. Avoid over analyzing, but be sure to determine which behavioral competency is addressed in this question. This guides the best course of action to choose. In addition, if you are able to come up with the answer before looking at your choices, you are less likely to become distracted by the incorrect choices. Strategy three, trust your first impression. There is a correct answer to each question, and it's widely believed that your first impression of the correct answer will be a better choice.

Oftentimes, first impressions come from our knowledge and experience and the judgment items are the experience based part of any SHRM certification. When we go against our first impressions, we start to overanalyze or rationalize why it cannot be the answer. I've even heard from participants when they thought the answer was too easy, so it can't be that one. Don't change your answers unless you're absolutely sure you found a better term asked response. You will be less likely to change your answers if you don't rush to select an answer before reviewing all four choices. Trust your first impression after considering all four options. Eliminate obvious distractors as strategy number four. For many situational judgment item questions, there are two distractors that usually can be easily eliminated. For example, I could do that, but I know I shouldn't, or I would do that, but SHRM BASK reflects what should be done, not what I or my company does.

So the four response options appear in a range of most effective, least effective, again, not in any particular order and there's likely to be plausible responses, but not the key response. Plausible answers represent possible actions you could take, but are not the most effective response according to the SHRM BASK. When you eliminate obvious distractors, you have less responses to consider and you've increased your odds to select the most effective or keyed response for a situational judgment item. Test-taking strategy five, ask yourself, what is the HR best practice response to this question? HR best practice is represented in the SHRM BASK through the proficiency indicators. Proficiency indicators are universal definitions of what competent behavior is, they are observable behaviors. SHRM BASK proficiency indicators represent what competent behavior looks like when performing as an effective HR professional, considering the nine behavioral competencies and the 14 functional areas. While you will never see a proficiency indicator shown verbatim as a response option on the exam, they do serve as the structural foundation to which all response options are aligned. Test-taking strategy five.

So let's look at some tips. Situational judgment item questions, the stems will target a specific issue to address based on the situation. Is the question asking what should you do now? And if so, look for the response that represents immediate response or action to the situation. Is the question asking what should you do to respond to an inquiry or directive? If so, look for short term focused responses, is the question asking, what should you do to resolve the situation or preclude from recurring? You want to look for those long-term preventive action responses. Once you familiarize yourself with the SHRM BASK, you'll see that it sometimes expects HR professionals to think and act in a strategic way. In a way

This transcript was exported on Aug 23, 2022 - view latest version here.

Part I SJI Success video (Completed 08/23/22) Transcript by Rev.com

Page 3 of 3

that is proactive and preventive. In a way that considers data and makes evidence based decisions. And stay focused on alignment with the organizational strategy, goals, and objectives, or looking for the responses that represent behavioral competency behavior.

So it is true, proven many times, practice makes perfect, right? The more practice you have with situational judgment items, the more success you will experience at answering the questions by selecting the keyed response or most effective course of action. Engaging with practice situational judgment items supports your awareness of how to identify keywords, stay focused on the questions, analyze scenarios for keyed information and learn the SHRM BASK by seeing it in action. So this concludes part one of our video series. To continue to learn more about successfully answering situational judgment item questions, proceed to part two of the learning program.