Quantifying Potential Cost Avoidance Implications of Outcomes Reported in Behavioral and Social Science Research

Abstract

Senior leaders often broadly appreciate the relevance of behavioral and social science research but are not able to readily compare the value of screening tests, interventions, or other factors analyzed in this literature with the benefits of operational programs or of tools to address different sets of outcomes. The research summarized in this report translates changes in outcomes often reported in behavioral and social science research results into potential cost avoidance estimates and other benefits that senior leaders value. The authors summarize and evaluate a collection of studies addressing specific outcomes in the behavioral and social science literature of interest to military personnel managers: initial training attrition; later first-term attrition; reenlistment; job qualification; recruit market expansion; training effectiveness; recruiting resource costs and productivity; legal incidents; injuries; suicide; and health care costs, utilization, and outcomes. The factors investigated included personality tests and screeners, additional screeners, incentives, compensation, recruiting resource allocation, deployments, telemedicine, distance learning versus classroom training, and other programs and interventions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 23, 2023
Accession Number
AD1193859

Entities

People

  • Bruce R. Orvis
  • Heather Krull
  • Michael G. Shanley

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Attrition
  • Business Administration
  • Databases
  • Distance Learning
  • Doctrine
  • Economic Analysis
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Flight Training
  • Health Services
  • Management Personnel
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Pilots
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Students
  • Test And Evaluation

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Naval Personnel Management
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.