Research for ASVAB

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Relationship Between ASVAB and Mechanical Maintenance Job Performance
March 1, 1993
The Marine Corps Job Performance Measurement (JPM) project was a long term research effort to develop objective measures of job performance and to relate these measures to the aptitude test used for military selection. The second phase of the project focused on mechanical maintenance specialties: automotive and helicopter mechanics. This research memorandum documents the ability of scores from the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to predict several measures of mechanical maintenance performance: hands-on performance tests, job knowledge tests, initial skill training course grades, and supervisor ratings. We examined tradeoffs between aptitude and job experience in predicting job performance. We also derived aptitude standards for these mechanical maintenance specialties based on the hands-on performance criterion. The Marine Corps JPM project succeeded in developing reliable, objective, and representative measures of mechanical maintenance job performance. The results from the project provide the Marine Corps with convincing empirical evidence that demonstrates the strong link between performance on the ASVAB and future performance in selected mechanical maintenance jobs.
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Surrogates for Mechanical Maintenance Job Performance
March 1, 1993
In times of budgetary constraint, the Marine Corps must assess its need for high aptitude enlisted recruits. Ideally, hands-on performance tests would provide the benchmark measure of job performance against which the Marine Corps could assess its enlistment aptitude standards and the proficiency of its personnel. However, hands-on performance tests are too expensive to use for ongoing monitoring of aptitude standards and evaluation of training needs. Surrogate measures, such as job knowledge test, might provide performance benchmarks at a fraction of the cost of hands-on tests. This paper assesses the usefulness of several surrogate job performance measures for evaluating enlistment aptitude standard and determining USMC training needs.
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Validity of the Marine Corps Electronics Composite for Predicting Success in Electronics Training School
March 1, 1993
The armed services use the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to select and classify enlisted personnel. The Marine Corps uses its Electronics (EL) composite of four ASVAB subtests to classify recruits into electronics-related field. This memorandum investigates whether the Marine Corps' EL composite is a valid predictor of performance in electronics courses, and whether the current EL standard of 115 is supported by analysis of training grade data.
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Computing AFQT Scores From Historical Data
August 1, 1992
The Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) serves as an initial screen for military selection. AFQT scores must accurately reflect the quality of recruits who enter the services and must maintain the same meaning and interpretation over time. Unfortunately, several changes in the AFQT and other problems make such historical computations and score interpretations difficult. This research memorandum details these past problems and presents solutions that will allow for the proper computation of current AFQT scores from historical databases.
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Factor Structure and Incremental Validity of the Enhanced Computer-Administered Tests
July 1, 1992
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), used to select and classify enlisted personnel, is highly correlated to math and verbal content areas. New computerized predictor tests that are sensitive to traits not measured by the current ASVAB subtests may be able to improve predictive validity. This research memorandum investigates the potential of one such group of tests, the Enhanced Computer-Administered Tests, to predict performance in the mechanical maintenance specialties.
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Uniqueness of a Psychomotor Construct to ASVAB
January 1, 1992
Computerized administration of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) potentially offers several benefits over the current paper-and-pencil administration. One benefit is the possible expansion of predictor tests beyond the dominant mathematical and verbal orientation of the ASVAB. This research memorandum first examines the comparability of measurement for the computerized and paper-and-pencil tests. Second, several new tests that measure psychomotor skills (hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity) are examined for their ability to expand the range of dimensions currently assessed by the ASVAB, as well as to improve the prediction of performance in mechanical maintenance jobs.
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Data Quality for the Helicopter Maintenance Phase of the Marine Corps Job Performance Measurement Project
January 1, 1992
All large-scale data collection efforts must contend with the issue of data quality. This research memorandum examines the quality of data collected for the helicopter maintenance portion of the Marine Corps Job Performance Measurement project and describes measures taken to minimize the effect of questionable or missing cases.
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An Analysis of CAT-ASVAB Scores in the Marine Corps JPM Data
September 1, 1991
The Defense Department developed a Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) version of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). During the Mechanical Maintenance phase of the Marine Corps Job Performance Measurement (JPM) project, CAT-ASVAB was administered to over 1,400 Marines in Automotive Repair and Helicopter Repair occupations. The scores of these Marines were analyzed to assess the reliability of CAT-ASVAB, the potential effects of test item compromise, and how the use of computers has affected the nature of speed tests. This research memorandum presents the results of the analysis.
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Development of ASVAB Norms for the Student Testing Program
June 1, 1991
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is administered in high schools and post-secondary schools as part of DoD's Student Testing Program. Norms for 11th and higher grades are based on a national sample tested in 1980 as part of the Profile of American Youth Study. Tenth grade norms use a nonrandom sample collected in 1984 by the Military Entrance Processing Command. With the introduction of Forms 18 and 19, scores will be reported on three composites and ten subtests. The objective of this research memorandum is to present norms for these scores.
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Analysis and Prediction of Infantry Unit Leaders' Performance
June 1, 1991
This research memorandum covers a variety of issues related to the performance of enlisted infantry unit leaders and the ability of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to predict that performance. Performance strengths and weaknesses were identified for a representative sample of almost 400 unit leaders who were tested with hands-on performance tests and job knowledge tests. The tasks were also analyzed for the perishability of the skills involved if not performed on a regular basis. Finally, these measures of unit leader performance were related to ASVAB. A strong relationship was found between an individual's ASVAB scores and his later performance as an infantry unit leader. Such findings have strong implications for the quality of individuals the Marine Corps should recruit to be able to staff its future leadership positions with qualified personnel.
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