A Comparison of the Performance of Fleet and Recruit Input to Class 'A' Schools.
Abstract
Validity studies of the Navy Basic Test Battery (BTB) are usually performed with Class 'A' school samples to evaluate the effectiveness of the tests as school selectors. Source of student input is rarely a research variable and the same BTB cutting scores used in recruit classification also apply in the selection of fleet students. This study was conducted to determine whether BTB validities differ for these two groups and whether test composites appropriate for recruits are valid for fleet applicants. The analysis was based on 130,000 grade cards, which were divided into recruit and fleet input to 82 schools. Validities of six BTB tests and four selection composites were computed for each sample. Differences between mean selector scores, mean final grades, an validities were tested for significance. Significant differences between fleet and recruit school input were found for all variables tested. In nine of the ten comparisons the tests were more valid predictors of the school performance of recruit input than of fleet input. In addition, students from the fleet generally entered with lower selection scores and graduated with higher final school grades. It was concluded that factors other than those measured by the BTB are having a greater effect on the school performance of students from the fleet. The following recommendations were made: (1) BTB cutting scores should be made lower for fleet than recruit input to Class 'A' schools; (2) The number of fleet students in A-Schools should be increased; and (3) Research should be undertaken to determine the effectiveness of alternate methods for selecting fleet men.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0728027
Entities
People
- Patricia J. Thomas
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory