Factor and Cluster Analyses of the Special Assignment Battery
Abstract
The Special Assignment Battery (SAB) is an interest and biographical data instrument developed to meet personnel screening needs of the United States Marine Corps and Navy. Previous research on the SAB has focused on the empirical keying of the instrument for the prediction of performance as a recruiter or drill instructor. Although both useful and well-conducted, past research on the SAB has done little to explicate the construct structure of the instrument. The present study fills this research gap. The construct structure of the SAB can be summarized with eight factors and 16 subordinate clusters. This research also serves as a methodological case study in the value of exploring construct structure through multiple analysis methods. The construct structure of the SAB can be summarized with eight factors and 16 subordinate clusters. The eight factors were labelled surgency, adjustment, likeability, prudence, work orientation, painstaking, demographics, and religious nondrinkers. The surgency factor was composed of four clusters: extroversion, exhibitionism, dominance, and spontaneity. The adjustment factor had subordinate clusters labelled well being and even tempered. The likability factor was composed of two clusters: good natured and stable. The prudence factor was defined by the two clusters organization and cautious. The demographics factor was composed from three clusters: age, marriage and delinquency. The factors, work orientation, painstaking, and religious nondrinker, each had only one subordinate cluster. Keywords: Marine Corps personnel, Naval personnel, Personnel selection, Biodata inventory, Factor analysis, Cluster analysis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA208673
Entities
People
- Gloria D. Durban
- Michael A. Mcdaniel