Adverse Impact in Police Personnel Selection: Subgroup differences and Fairness Concernsfor Applicants from Immigrant Families?

Abstract In this study, we examined potential barriers to entry into the police service for applicants who reported a migration background during the application process, using applicant data from the Rhineland-Palatinate Police. For this purpose, we analyzed subgroup differences across the police officer selection process, from cognitive ability tests and their subelements to the structured interview. The sample comprised two applicant cohorts that differed by educational pathway ( N BA = 3,005; N HBF = 404). Migration background predicted test performance even after statistical control for educational qualifications and German-language proficiency, measured by school-leaving qualification, final school grade, and grade in the subject German. Subgroup differences were particularly pronounced in test components with high verbal load and in the situational judgment test, which may assess implicit familiarity with police norms and practices— ​what we term “police literacy.” Notably, the HBF cognitive ability test, designed as a positive measure, produced subgroup differences. These findings underline the need to critically evaluate the effects of positive measures and the construct relevance of police selection instruments.