Sample Representativeness in the New Recruit Surveys: Seasonality Effects

Abstract

For this report, the researchers analyzed data from 2 years of the U. S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) New Recruit Survey (NRS) to see whether substantial seasonal variations in characteristics of accessions exist. Variables were selected for investigation based on preliminary Chi square analyses conducted on 1 year of NRS data. Results indicate that Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) category, age at contract, sex, geographic region, enlistment term, length of Delayed Entry Program (DEP), first contact with an Army recruiter, and circumstances of first contact appear to have substantial seasonal effects. Enlistment incentives show some statistically significant differences across the year, but seasonal effects may not be of practical significance. Ethnicity, educational goals, plans to use the G.I. Bill, and hometown size do not seem to have seasonal patterns among new recruits. In general, for variables that are affected, the major contrast is between summer and winter accessions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA232763

Entities

People

  • Mary S. Hay

Organizations

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

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Analysis Of Variance
  • Cognition
  • Contracts
  • Data Science
  • Demography
  • Economic Forecasting
  • Education
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Geographic Regions
  • Information Science
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Research
  • Seasonal Variations
  • Social Sciences
  • Surveys
  • Training
  • United States

Readers

  • Naval Personnel Management
  • Regression Analysis.