I__. - International Military Testing Association

Implementation of the Adaptability Screening Profile (ASP)*
Thomas Trent, Mary A. Quenette, and Gerald J. Laabs
Testing Systems Department
Navy Personnel Research & Development Cente?
San Diego, California
At last year’s MTA symposium concerning the implementation of a biographical
instrument (Adaptability Screening Profile/ASP) into military enlistment screening (Sellman,
1989), we described technical issues (Trent, 1989), data analysis plans (Waters & Dempsey,
1989), a methodology for controlling item response distortion (Hanson, Hallam & Hough,
1989), and plans for accelerated implementation (Laabs, Trent & Quenette, 1989). While we
made considerable progress towards these stated goals, the operational start and field test o.f
the ASP has been postponed while the Armed Services review implementation options. This
paper summarizes ASP objectives and updates the research results. In addition, unresolved
implementation issues and preliminary plans for the development of a new Department of
Defense (DOD) enlistment screening algorithm are described.
The Problem Revisited
Since WorId War II, the Services manpower and personnel research laboratories have
conducted research on a variety of biographical and other noncognitive assessments for
personnel screening (Laurence & Means, 1985). Nonetheless, the quota restriction that the
Services place on the proportion of non high school graduates has operated as the primary
attrition controlling screen. As an increasing number of high school “dropouts” earn
alternative education credentials (e.g., adult school, high school equivalency certificate,
certificates of attendance, and occupational programs), the U.S. Congress and advocacy groups,
such as the American Council on Education, have requested DOD to augment educational
enlistment criteria with a screening instrument that measures attributes of the individual
applicant that are related to adaptation to military life and the probability of completing initial
obligated service.
Opposition to basing enlistment eligibility on educational group membership has
intensified since a 1987/1988 DOD classification of educational credentials into three eligibility
tiers. Table 1 shows that attrition during. the first year of enlistment varies considerably across
and within the tiers by type of education credential. While Tier I applicants are given highest
priority for enlistment3, the attrition rates for adult schoolers (23.6%) and recruits with one
‘Paper presented at the 32nd Annual Conference of the Military Testing Association at Orange
Beach, Alabama, November, 1990.
‘The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors, are not ofliciai, and do not
necessarily represent those of the Navy Department.
‘The relutively small numbers of Tier II & Tier III non high school graduate applicants who arc
selected must also score considerably higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Buttcrv.
398
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