The work sample method of data collection is the systematic collection and review of products created on the job in the normal course of work. Examples include written documents such as reports, memos, or letters; tangible products such as a bowl created by a potter, a training course developed by an instructional designer, or a poster created by a graphic designer; and routine work records such as audiotapes of a customer service representative's conversations with clients or computer records of a data-entry clerk's output.
Strengths
Work samples provide direct evidence of performance and therefore offer strong validity. Unlike data collection methods such as surveys and focus groups in which data is based on the reports of people, the data is not filtered through employees' perceptions.
Work samples are unobtrusive measures that do not require direct interaction with the individuals under study. They therefore are not susceptible to the changes in behavior that may occur when individuals know they are being observed.
Because the review of work samples does not require the presence of workers, scheduling and coordination of participants is not required.
Video and audio recordings expand the collection of work samples to intangible behaviors such as interactions with others.
Because samples of routine work are studied, employees do not need to take time away from work to participate in the data collection effort, as they do in focus groups, surveys, and interviews, nor do they need to be motivated to participate.
Criticisms
The collection of an adequate number of work samples can require significant administrative coordination and time.
It can be difficult to ensure that the work samples obtained are truly representative of the employees' output. Especially in situations in which individuals choose the work samples they provide, as in asking job candidates to provide samples, the samples may not be representative of the individual's usual products.
The review of work samples can be expensive and time-consuming, especially when highly trained reviewers are required.
Employees can be uncomfortable about handing over their work for review. They may suspect that the collection is a prelude to layoffs or