A theory of adverse impact: Meta-analytic update of the 3-step model

In an attempt to better understand the causes of adverse impact, Cottrell, Newman, and Roisman (2015) have recently introduced a theoretical model called the 3-Step Model of Adverse Impact. The 3-Step Model provides a parsimonious developmental explanation for the origin of the Black-White cognitive test score gap, in which race relates to maternal advantage factors, which in turn relate to parenting factors, which in turn relate to cognitive test scores. One potential limitation of Cottrell et al.’s model, which is common in empirical tests of mediation models, is that the parameter estimates are based upon a single primary sample. To extend the applicability of the 3-Step model, I replicate the 3-Step Model of Adverse Impact (i.e., a mediation model) using Hunter and Schmidt (2004) meta-analytic methods, by conducting a research synthesis of the correlations involved in the 3-Step Model. This meta-analytic examination of the 3-Step Model is a rigorous empirical test to see which parts of the model still hold when using meta-analytic average population estimates across a diverse variety of samples. Results suggest that many of the parameter estimates and correlations of the model are of similar size and direction as in the original Cottrell et al. (2015) model, but less of the gap is meta-analytically explained by the covariates in the 3-Step Model.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2018

Author dc:creator

• Cottrell, Jonathan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Newman, Daniel A.
• Drasgow, Fritz
• Rounds, James
• Fraley, R. Chris
• Briley, Daniel A.

• Adverse Impact
• Race
• Parenting
• Intelligence
• Cognitive Ability
• Child Development

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2017 Jonathan Cottrell

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/99293

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/99293