Hi there,
We’re sorry that Plum hasn’t been meeting your expectations. We hope we can address some of your concerns!
We would first like to clarify that Plum does not use a traditional IQ test. Plum assesses fluid intelligence, instead of crystallized intelligence (which is what a traditional standardized test measures). Fluid intelligence is widely agreed-upon to be the most accurate predictor of future on-the-job success (Schmidt & Hunter, 1998). The method we use to assess fluid intelligence is Raven’s Progressive Matrices, which is particularly noted for its ability to NOT discriminate against particular groups, regardless of country of origin, race, gender, age, sexuality, etc. Our assessment only requires a grade 5 reading level, making it accessible even to those who are not high school graduates.
For the personality portion of our assessment, Plum leverages the Five-Factor (or “Big 5”) model of personality, which is scientifically validated to be an accurate means of measuring personality. In fact, when combined with the results of a fluid intelligence test, personality has been found to be highly predictive of job performance (Schmidt & Hunter, 1998). Research has also found that someone’s personality is highly stable, in that it changes little due to situational factors like how much sleep a person has had. Finally, leveraging the input of subject matter experts like hiring managers is a well-vetted method for determining role requirements, such as which personality traits are optimal for a role (Tett, Jackson, & Rothstein, 1991).
Plum is based in 50+ years of deep Industrial/Organizational research, and our current product is vetted by professors and PhD candidates based out of Central Michigan University and the University of Guelph, who would disagree that the peer-reviewed science is “dubious” or “fledgling.”
I would be happy to answer any further questions you have about the validity of our product, or I can send you a copy of our technical manual. You can reach out to me at leann@plum.io.
Leann Schneider, PhD, Product Manager at Plum