The Effect of Presentation Medium on Pilot Selection Test Battery Scores
Abstract
The use of computer-based testing systems for selection and classification has gained popularity in both the civilian and military world. However, there are several issues related to the transition from paper-and-pencil tests to computerized testing. The American Psychological Association (APA) has set guidelines to be followed to ensure both qualitative and quantitative equivalence of new test formats prior to their use in applied settings. Attention must be paid to the psychometric properties of the test design and the human-machine interface to produce a reliable and valid test. Other peripheral issues such as visual display qualities and input devices must also be carefully considered. The purpose of the study was to conduct an initial evaluation of the equivalence between the current paper-and-pencil version of the U.S. Navy's Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB) and a Windows-based version of the ASTB. Eighty-two U.S. Navy aviation flight school candidates at the Naval Aviation School's Command (NASC) volunteered to participate. Participants were given either the current paper-and-pencil version or the computer-based version of the ASTB or an alternate test developed to measure similar psychological attributes. The results showed that there were no main effects due to medium (paper-and-pencil vs. computer-based), although performance on the alternate test was significantly worse than on the ASTB. Predictive validation of the computerized ASTB will not be completed until participant training performance data is collected.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 04, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA350493
Entities
People
- A. D. Chapman
- C. Portman
- D. Blower
- S. Biggerstaff
Organizations
- Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory