Trait Complexes and New Ability Assessments
Abstract
Existing approaches to ability assessment for selection in the U.S. Army are generally cost effective, but are essentially moribund, as they have mainly focused for the past several decades on general mental ability and a small number of occupational abilities/skills. Use of some non-ability measures (e.g., personality traits representing the Five-Factor Model, biodata) represent a more recent addition to the predictor space. However, both approaches are substantially limited in predicting individual-differences variance in training and performance. The proposed research draws on developments theory/application in both the ability/skill domain and expanded non-ability domains, to provide a more complete assessment of the predictor space. In the ability domain, proposed new/revised measures include: (a) complex perceptual speed, (b) judgement and planning, (c) practical problem solving, (d) oral comprehension for meaningful material, (e) use of electronic aids for solution of mathematical and spatial tasks (including for example, performance of procedural tasks after viewing multimedia demonstrations that have spatial and perceptual/motor demands), and (f) domain knowledge. In the non-ability domain, the focus will be on a relatively small number of trait complexes, that integrate across personality, interests, self-concept, motivational traits, and so on. Expanding the predictor space in this manner is expected to provide the basis for a substantial increase in predictive validity for Army-relevant training and field success.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 04, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910400
Entities
People
- Phillip Ackerman
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation
- United States Army