Cross-Validation of the Computerized Adaptive Screening Test (CAST)

Abstract

The Computerized Adaptive Screening Test (CAST) was developed to provide an estimate at recruiting stations of prospects' Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) scores. The CAST was designed to replace the paper- and-pencil Enlistment Screening Test (EST). The initial validation study of CAST indicated that CAST predicts AFQT at least as accurately as EST and that it is more efficient to use (Sands & Gade, 1983). This report summarizes the findings from a cross-validation study of CAST that used the following procedure. Prospects' CAST scores were recorded by recruiters in U.S. Army recruiting stations and were subsequently matched by social security number to applicant tapes from Military Entrance Processing Stations to obtain AFQT scores and relevant demographic data. These data were examined using regression, discriminant function, and cross-tabulation analyses to provide recruiters with information on how to interpret prospects' CAST scores. The correlation between CAST scores and AFQT scores was .80 for the cross-validation sample, whereas in the initial validation sample the correlation was .85. These data indicate that CAST scores are very good predictos of AFQT scores.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1984
Accession Number
ADA163148

Entities

People

  • Paul A. Gade
  • Rebecca M. Pliske
  • Richard M. Johnson

Organizations

  • U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Calibration
  • Classification
  • Demography
  • Education
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Geographic Regions
  • Military Research
  • Motivation
  • Recruiting
  • Regression Analysis
  • Security
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Security
  • Standards
  • Training
  • United States

Readers

  • Naval Personnel Management
  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.