Criterion‐related validity studies published in theJournal of Applied PsychologyandPersonnel Psychologybetween 1960 and 1979 are examined to determine what changes have occurred in the volume of published research, the types of research design, occupations investigated, predictors and criteria used, and obtained validities. The major changes in the published research are both an absolute and relative decline in the volume of reported validation research, an increase in the average sample size, a decline in the proportion of studies utilizing supervisory rating criteria, a de‐emphasis of aptitude tests as predictors, and a tendency towards greater use of predictive research designs. However, no significant change has occurred in the absolute magnitude of reported validity coefficients during this 20 year period nor in the types of occupations being investigated. These changes are interpreted in terms of increasing governmental intervention in employment selection during the last two deca