Final answer:
Analyzing the job is the first step in the test validation process. This step is crucial for building a foundation that will shape the creation and validation of the test, aimed to assess potential candidates accurately based on job-related criteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step in the test validation process is D) analyzing the job. This involves understanding what the job entails, the skills necessary to perform it, and the attributes that predict success in that role. Before a test can be developed or administered, one must have a clear idea of what the test is aiming to measure. This foundational step ensures that subsequent steps such as creating a test battery or developing an expectancy chart are grounded in relevant job-related criteria. The overall objective is to create a valid and reliable way to assess potential candidates for the job.
To define the subject of this question, we can consider it as a part of the broader field of industrial-organizational psychology within Business. It is a topic typically studied at the College level. While creating a test battery (A) and cross-validating (E) are crucial steps, they follow after the job analysis has been completed. The other options provided, such as administering tests (C) or developing an expectancy chart (B), also come at later stages in the test validation process.