Ability-Requirement Factors Underlying Nomothetic Job Descriptors.

Abstract

General nomothetic job descriptors (NJDs) are useful in describing, comparing, and grouping a broad spectrum of jobs. Moreover, NJDs are potentially linkable to measurable human attributes through the "job component" approach under which attribute-requirement weights are derived for a universal set of job components (NJDs or NJD factors). Subsequently, attribute-requirement estimates can be derived for any job that has been rated or scored on the weighted components. This study explored factor structures underlying requirement ratings of the NJDs in three structured job analysis questionnaires on basic abilities as defined in three different attribute-requirement inventories. Six ability-requirement factors were similar across all three data sets: General Physical Ability, Equipment-Control Sensorimotor Ability, Manual Ability, Reasoning and Problem Solving, Numerical Ability, and Visual Perception. A seventh Factor, Verbal Ability, was common to two data sets. The results suggest that little systematic rating variance would be lost by condensing the individual abilities to a more manageable number of factors.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1996
Accession Number
ADA367586

Entities

People

  • J. W. Cunningham
  • Mark A. Wilson
  • Rodger D. Ballentine
  • Thomas E. Powell
  • William E. Wimpee

Organizations

  • North Carolina State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter IED
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Data Sets
  • Factor Analysis
  • Inventory
  • Job Analysis
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Research
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Perception
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Reasoning
  • Surveys
  • United States
  • Visual Perception

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  • Occupational Health and Safety.
  • Organizational Psychology.
  • Regression Analysis.