Final answer:
Banding is controversially used in cognitive ability tests during employment selection processes, intended to address cultural bias and be more equitable, yet it's disputed due to potentially compromising meritocracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The controversial practice of banding is most applicable to cognitive ability tests. Banding is used in employment settings where cutoff scores determine job selection. Due to concerns such as cultural bias in testing, banding allows individuals who score within a certain range of each other to be considered as having equivalent test scores. This is done as an attempt to reduce adverse impact on minority groups. Nonetheless, this practice remains controversial as it also potentially conflicts with the principle of selecting the highest-scoring candidates.