Virtual Assessment Proctoring: Wicked Genius or Wicked Dangerous

Any assessment used for selection such as the Watson-GlaserTM II Critical Thinking Appraisal, Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test, or Workplace Personality Inventory should be proctored.  Because these assessments guide hiring decisions, there should be great effort taken to ensure the individual being assessed is the same person being considered for the position.  In addition, you want to make sure that individual answers for him/herself and not with the help/advice from others.

But with so many companies hiring virtual team members and organizations dispersed globally, how can an assessment be proctored when there is no testing center nearby? 

This is a question I am hearing much more frequently.

Recently, I heard an interesting solution- Virtual Proctoring.  The organization plans to send a webcam to each applicant they plan to assess, and will leave Skype Video Chat open throughout the assessment process.  Interesting, right?

I find this idea fascinating, as it solves a modern day problem with a modern solution.  While I’m the first person to remind you that this solution isn’t perfect, and in-person proctoring is the best possible option, I think this idea needs to be considered.

The organization will ask the individual to show their identification to the webcam so that the test-taker’s identity can be confirmed.  Then, the HR rep or consultant will read the assessment instructions while being viewed via webcam.  Once the test-taker begins the assessment, the HR rep/consultant can monitor the individual to ensure that there are no breaches of security or external factors influencing the answers.  In addition, the HR rep remains visible via webcam in case the test-taker has questions or technical issues.

What do you think?

Is virtual proctoring the 21st Century solution to selection assessments?

Do you think having a webcam present would impact scores in any way?

What are the pro’s and con’s?