Military Psychology: Personnel Selection, & Classification

1. Military Psychology:Personnel Selection, & Classification Dr. Steven J. Kass

2. Military Psychology Personnel Selection Selection Errors • False Negative – Rejecting candidate who would have been successful • False Positive - Accepting candidate who fails on job (more costly)

3. Satisfactory True Positive False Negative Performance False Positives True Negative Unsatisfactory Reject Accept Test Cutoff Selection Errors

4. Selection Techniques • Civilian • Assessment Centers • Application Forms • Biographical Inventories • Interviews • References • Work Samples • Aptitude Tests (preferred by military) • Military Aptitude Tests • ASVAB: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery • AFQT: Armed Forces Qualification Test

5. Military Selection TestsReliability • Reliability – consistency/stability of test • Test-retest – correlation between test scores taken at 2 different points in time (Coefficient of Stability) • Internal Consistency – homogeneity of test items (Coefficient Alpha or KR-20)

6. Military Selection TestsValidity • Validity – Does the test measure what it is intended to measure • Criterion-Related – correlation between test and criterion performance measure • Concurrent – use currently available performance measure • Predictive – collect performance measure later in time • Construct – correlation between test and measures of similar constructs • Convergent – highly correlated with like measures • Divergent (discriminant) – uncorrelated with unlike measures • Content – SME opinion of test content (job analysis) • Face – Test-takers opinion of test content

7. SelectionCriterion-Related Validity r = .00 r = .80 Satisfactory Satisfactory False Negatives True Positives True Positives False Negatives Performance Performance True Negatives False Positives True Negatives False Positives Unsatisfactory Unsatisfactory Reject Accept Reject Accept Test Cutoff Test Cutoff Poor Validity High Validity

8. Setting Cut Scores SelectionEffects of Selection Ratio Satisfactory True Positives False Negatives Performance Performance True Negatives False Positives Unsatisfactory Reject Accept SR = .75 .25 Selection Ratio (SR) - # hired / # applicants

9. Military SelectionSetting the Cut Scores • Maximize “Correct Hires” and “Correct Rejections” • Minimize “Misses” and “False Positives” • Problem of Misses - Possible unfair test • Problem of False positives - High cost of training • Cutoff scores should: • Be reasonable, achievable • Be consistent with job expectations, requirements • Consider willingness to accept false positives or misses

10. Military Personnel SelectionEnlisted Selection Process • Application & Screening by Recruiters • Examinations • Contracting into Service • Accession into Military (Assignment)

11. Enlisted Selection Process1. Application & Screening by Recruiters • Military Recruits (for enlistment) – Screened for aptitude, education, English proficiency, medical, physical fitness, moral character, age, and citizenship • Young: Age 18 to mid 20’s • H.S. Education (or equivalent) • Higher test scores required w/out diploma • Those w/out diploma less likely to complete enlistment • High moral character • Screen for criminal/juvenile record (1% screened out) • Little work experience • Physically fit • High physical demand, willing to risk life in line of work • (12% screened out) • Basic Training

12. Enlisted Selection Process2. Examinations • ASVAB – single greatest determinant of who gets in. • AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) • Composite of verbal/math ASVAB scores • Each Service sets cut score based on min composite of ASVAB components

13. Enlisted Selection Process2. Examinations: ASVAB Tests • Arithmetic Reasoning (AR): Arithmetic word problems • Word Knowledge (WK): Meaning of words/synonyms • Mathematics Knowledge (MK): HS math principles • Paragraph Comprehension (PC): Obtain info from written passages • General Science (GS): Physical & biological sciences • Mechanical Comprehension (MC): Mechanical/physical principles • Electronics Information (EI): Electricity/electronics • Auto/Shop Information (AS): Autos, tools, & shop terminology • Assembling Objects (AO): Identify object from disassembled parts *Note: Coding Speed (CS) & Numerical Operations (OS) are no longer on ASVAB

14. ASVABSample Items • GS: Water is an example of: a. Crystal b. Gas c. Solid d. Liquid • AR: If 12 men are needed to run 4 machines, how many men are needed to run 20 machines? a. 20 b. 60 c. 48 d. 80 • AS: A chisel is used for a. prying b. cutting c. twisting d. grinding

15. Enlisted Selection Process3. Contracting into Service • Contracting process • Enlisted personnel classified based on screening data and exams by Service Career Counselor for the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) • MEPS counselor “sells” applicant on specific training slot based on • Recruit aptitude • Recruit interest • Positions in need of filling • Recruit signs contract

16. Enlisted Selection Process4. Accession into Military • Recruit joins as • Active duty • Reserve – Delayed Entry Program (DEP) for up to 1 year

17. Officer Selection ProcessOfficer Candidates • Candidates • Older • Various levels of job experience • College graduates • Selection • Whole-Person Assessment (no single criterion) • Leadership potential • Technical skills • Character • Letters of recommendation • GPA • Interview • Selection made by boards of senior officers/personnel specialists

18. Classification & AssignmentEnlisted • Classification – system for matching recruits to Service jobs. • Job-Person Match – Job analysis to identify specific tasks (task clusters) and KSAs • Army, Marines – Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) • Navy – Ratings • Air Force – Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC) • Job analysis performed periodically to update requirements • Validity generalization • Assignment – place individual in specific location & unit

19. Military Personnel ClassificationEnlisted Example • AFSC Clusters • Mechanical • Administrative (e.g., admin specialist, personnel specialist, postal specialist) • ASVAB scores on WK, PC, CS, NO • General • Electronic

20. Classification & AssignmentOfficer • Emphasis on education • Few positions depend on aptitude test scores • (exception: pilots/navigators) • Priority to: • Science & engineering majors • Class standing in commissioning programs

21. Officer Candidate ScreeningAcademic Criteria by Service