I__. - International Military Testing Association

METHOD
The purpose of the present research was
autobiographical questionnaire and to
relationship between scores on the biodata
performance on the hands-on tests.
Biodata Questionnaire Development
to develop
determine
instrument
t::
and
A l24-item draft version of the Personal Activities
Inventory was developed, based on a review of the relevant
literature, and on the nature of the critical tasks to be
performed during the job performance test. Emphasis was
placed on biodata factors associated with mechanical
interests, abilities, and experience, numerical and
technical/scientific interests and abilities, past
experience with computers, and on work, academic, and
personal experiences that might be reasonably expected, on
an llarmchairtl basis, to be related to task performance.
Attention was similarly given to the development of items
that might reflect the cognitive (e.g., attention to detail)
and social (e.g., working alone or with others) processes
that might be reflected in task proficiency. The 124 items
were classified into 24 broader Biodata Factors. The draft
version of the Inventory was reviewed and, following minor
refinements, was pretested on a small sample (N=15) to
determine ease of administration. No problems were found.
Subjects
Subjects for the biodata testing were first-term FCs. The
103 sailors who were scheduled to be administered the handson
job performance measurement test were, thus, a sample of
convenience for the present study. While predictor
(biodata) scores were collected for all 103 subjects, both
predictor and criterion (job performance) data were
available for only 56 of the total sample tested, 25
(44.61%) radar and 31 (55.4%) data processing.
Administration of the "Personal Activities Inventory"
The final version of the Inventory was administered at Dam
Neck and San Diego. Subjects were logged-in, given the test
booklet and answer sheet, and instructed to begin. There was
no time limit.
Analysis of the Data
Hands-on test data were entered into the computer. The raw
scores for each of the seven critical tasks were summed for
each subject in the form of a standard score. ,Data were
analyzed separately for the two subratings. The response
format of each item was the determining factor in the
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