Evaluation of Tests of Processing Speed, Spatial Ability, and Working Memory for use in Military Occupational Classification
Abstract
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a joint-service battery used by the U.S. military services and the Coast Guard for enlistment selection and occupational classification. A subset of the ASVAB consisting of a composite of math and verbal tests is used for selection while various combinations of ASVAB tests, in composites formed to optimally predict training performance, are used for occupational qualification. The Navy has conducted extensive research to support the benefits of including a former ASVAB perceptual speed/accuracy test, Coding Speed (CS), as an adjunct ASVAB classification test as well as a working memory test, Mental Counters (MCt), shortly to be administered to both Navy and Air Force applicants. This technical report summarizes the supporting evidence for using CS and MCt in military classification and for use of the current ASVAB spatial ability test, Assembling Objects (AO), which is now only used by the Navy. The supporting evidence includes (1) incremental validity to the ASVAB in predicting training performance for a range of occupations, (2) lower adverse impact for females and some minority groups in qualifying for important occupations, and (3) increases in the proportion of recruit populations qualified for occupations in the aggregate.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA589951
Entities
People
- Janet D. Held
- Thomas R. Carretta
Organizations
- Navy Personnel Research, Studies, and Technology