Supporting Inclusivity Through Assessment Research

Why Inclusive Assessment Matters 

Ensuring inclusive and accessible hiring processes is not just an ethical imperative—it’s a business necessity. In fact, inclusion initiatives offer numerous benefits to workplaces, yet despite their skills and potential, neurodivergent candidates, and those with disabilities remain significantly underemployed, often due to assessment and selection processes that unintentionally disadvantage them.

At SHL, we are committed to promoting inclusivity in hiring by conducting cutting-edge research on all candidate experiences. Our Inclusive Assessment Research Program is dedicated to identifying barriers, improving assessment design, and sharing best practices to create a fairer hiring landscape.

SHL’s Commitment to Inclusive Assessment 

This year, SHL has made significant strides in advancing inclusive assessment practices. Our latest research focuses on key areas that impact neurodivergent candidates and offers actionable insights to improve hiring experiences. Some of our key initiatives include: 

• Understanding neurodivergent candidate experiences – We are investigating how assessment design affects neurodivergent candidates, including their likelihood of disclosing neurodiversity and how different test formats influence their experience.
• Partnering with industry leaders – Through collaborations with organizations like Black Young Professionals (BYP) and Purple Tuesday, we are sharing research and gathering first-hand insights and applying them to improve assessment inclusivity.
• Innovating for accessibility – Our research into assessment design for candidates from the deaf community is helping us create universally accessible measures that work for all individuals.
• Collaborating with customers – With a range of customers internationally, we also partner to develop assessments such as to help level the playing field for candidates with non-traditional living experiences.
• Continue presenting and sharing our research – SHL was named a Neuro-Champion in the Celebrating Neurodiversity Awards for our continuous research into neurodivergent candidate experiences and our commitment to improving hiring, development, and mobility processes. We have already taken part in BIOP 2025 and will be presenting further research in SIOP 2025 later this year.

The Science Behind Inclusive Assessment 

One of our most significant research findings examines cognitive ability assessments for neurodivergent candidates. Our peer-reviewed study, Cognitive Ability: A Promising Option for Assessing Neurodiverse Talent, found that cognitive ability assessments show negligible score differences between neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals. This research challenges outdated assumptions and reinforced the validity of cognitive assessments in diverse hiring contexts.

By collecting meaningful data through candidate interviews and reactions to the assessment process, we can examine the applicant experience in more detail and work on improving it.

Continuing Knowledge Advancement 

SHL’s commitment to inclusivity extends beyond research. We are actively implementing our findings into our assessment solutions, ensuring that our clients can make informed, fair hiring decisions. Our work highlights the importance of:

• Designing assessments that accommodate all candidates without requiring disclosure.
• Using inclusive language in hiring materials to foster openness and accessibility.
• Leveraging research-driven best practices to refine assessment experiences. 

Inclusive assessment enables organizations to unlock the full potential of all talent and build a workforce that truly reflects the diversity of thought and experience in today’s world. We look forward to sharing more updates from our findings in the coming year.

For a deeper dive into SHL’s research on inclusive assessment and neurodiversity, and how you can get involved, read the full report.