ABSTRACT
This chapter has three major sections. The first section focuses on cognitive ability as a predictor of performance, including a brief discussion of the structure of cognitive ability, as well as its measurement and validity. In the second section, we provide a discussion of the issue of subgroup differences in cognitive ability. The principles associated with the use of measures that are associated with subgroup differences apply to any predictor, but they are especially relevant in the use of cognitive ability tests because differences between Caucasian groups and some minority groups are relatively large. The final section discusses certification exams that are frequently used to ensure professional competence and public safety.
