Technical b r Report - International Military Testing Association

The quality of new accessions in the past WTS measured on the basis of
AFQT scores, which provides a single index of general trainability, All
men regardless of aptitude in specific job areas, were categorized on the
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bask of their general trainability. Witi: the old aptitude areas, the
AFQT did provrde the best measure of quality and the procedure was �
appropriate. With the new aptitude tireas, categorizing men on the
basis of AFQT is no longer as appropriate: Since the new scores contain
measures of general ability, the ntimber of qualifying aptitude arca scores
at or above specified levels provides a more a-curate description of the
q;Jdity of the accessions.
We have been working with Army personnel management for some time to
develop a new basis for categorizing quality. Although at the time of
wr:Lting there has been no final resolution about the definitions of the
categories, it is clear that the intent is to broaden the basis by including
all the aptitude areas in develaping an overall quality index. The basis
that is finally adopted should make scnsc from all points of view;
some considerations are that it should have a known relationship to the
mobbilization population, it should provide useful information to’personnel
management and it should not stigmatize the individual. One of the complaints
about the AFQT mental categories is that the Cat IV’s, or men in the marginal
category, are generally assumed to be the misfits. While there may be no
way to avoid stigmatizing completing, the new system should be descrfptive
of trainability in specific areas, which may help prevent a general labelling.
Another area of concern about tests is that of cffcctiveness of the
tests for minority group personnel. The tests should be equally effective
predictors of SUCCESS for all groups, that is, blacks and whites with the
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