An application of Pareto-optimality to public safety selection data: Assessing the feasibility of optimal composite weighting

This study examined the application of Pareto-optimal weighting schemes to real selection data from the public safety sector. Of particular interest was the evaluation of how well Pareto-optimal weighting estimates approximate observed validity and adverse impact statistics when applied to selection data. Pareto-optimal methodology was applied to entry-level selection data from two U.S. municipalities in the public safety sector. Results indicate that Pareto-optimal estimates maintain robustness when compared to real selection outcomes. Specifically, near identically-shaped Pareto fronts were obtained when inputting both raw and corrected validity estimates, suggesting suitable sensitivity to varying input parameters. Practical challenges of implementing Pareto-optimal methods as well as the implications for adopting Pareto-optimal weights are discussed.