2003 IMTA Proceedings - International Military Testing Association

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Concetiousness .09 (08%) .11 (10%) .02 (01%)
Table 3: Total standardized effects on “affective commitment.” Percentage of accounted variance are put in brackets.
Discussion
Generally it can be said that the personality factors extraversion and especially
neuroticism have an indirect as well as a direct influence on affective commitment. It is however
interesting to note that these effects on affective commitment are different with regards to the
sub-samples. Whereas the influence of the variable neuroticism in the sub-samples “younger”
and “older” was as expected moderately high, the direct effects based on the personality traits are
missing. As to the findings in general: There is a big influence from the context factors in terms
of commitment. These effects could be established in the sub-samples. The job characteristic
received a bigger weight in the sub- sample ”older” than in the other.
The results have to be taken cautiously. On the one hand it is only a cross-sectional
analysis. This means the consistency of the established effects cannot be tested and there can be
no talk of causality. On the other hand the sub-samples are too small. Therefore artefacts cannot
be ruled out.
The results serve the purpose of first points of reference. Further studies are planned and
will be analysed more minutely, for example with reference to distinctive features such as rank
or function in the analyse. It can be assumed that the use of a personality test in the selection
process for professional officers modestly serves its purpose to clarify commitment as well as
intention to quit. How one can continue to justify the use of these tests can only be established
with further studies and if economic considerations allow it.
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45 th Annual Conference of the International Military Testing Association
Pensacola, Florida, 3-6 November 2003