A Culture-Free Performance Test of Learning Aptitude.

Abstract

A prototype performance test of intellectual capability (learning ability) was created and given a field trial. Test materials and procedures were designed to be culture-free as possible. Six pairs of random polygons were used as stimuli in a two-choice, multiple discrimination learning paradigm. Variables were racial group (white, nonwhite) and pacing mode (self-paced, machine-paced). Subjects were 121 white and 39 nonwhite male Navy recruits. Over 10 trials (approximately 6 min. of testing time), a learning effect with internal (split-half) reliability of .84 was obtained. White performance was superior to nonwhite only in the machine-paced mode. Significant correlation between the learning rate and Navy General Classification Test scores occurred only for the white group when the sample was divided by race. These results provide considerable encouragement toward the development of a reliable, culture-free test of general learning ability that is very practical and time-efficient. (Author)

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1978
Accession Number
ADA053871

Entities

People

  • James K. Arima

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Analysis Of Variance
  • Applied Psychology
  • Behavioral Sciences
  • California
  • Catalogs
  • Data Analysis
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Genetics
  • Information Processing
  • Materials
  • Performance Tests
  • Procurement
  • Psychology
  • Students
  • Systems Engineering
  • Training
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Auditory Neuroscience/Auditory Physiology.
  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.