Supervisor estimation of abilities required in jobs

The Minnesota Job Requirements Questionnaire (MJRQ) was developed and administered to supervisors of 11 selected jobs who rated the ability requirements of the job they supervised. The MJRQ represented each of nine GATB aptitudes by five items in a Likert-type format. MJRQ ratings were compared with expert ratings in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) and Occupational Ability Patterns (OAPs) derived from administration of the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). Reliability of MJRQ ratings was shown by high Hoyt reliability coefficients. Comparison of mean ratings and variabilities of ratings by supervisors in a job showed construct validity for the MJRQ approach, as did intercorrelations of MJRQ ratings. OAPs derived from the MJRQ compared favorably with those derived from the GATB and DOT, showing promise for the parsimonious MJRQ approach to the development of OAPs.     

Predictive Indices of the GATB

The study reported here investigated the use of the General Aptitude Test Battery for identification and counseling of students in vocational and academic clases in Ohio secondary schools. Frequency distributions of the GATB aptitude scores were developed for 4,000 ninth- and tenth-grade boys and girls. A multiple regression analysis was performed using the aptitude scores of the GATB as the independent variables, and point hour ratio and single subject grades at the end of one year as the dependent variables. Freshmen and sophomore grade-point average separately and in combination were the criteria used to determine the predictive ability of the aptitudes of the GATB. The GATB was useful in the predictive role for ninth- and tenth-grade achievement in most of the areas studied.     

GATB APTITUDE TESTING OF THE DEAF: PROBLEMS AND POSSIBILITIES

This study, based on aptitude testing of 408 deaf high school students, provides evidence that a modified version of the GATB is a useful instrument for measuring the occupational aptitudes of deaf individuals.     

GATB Aptitude Intercorrelations of Ninth and Twelfth Graders—A Study in Organization of Mental Abilities

This study was conducted to investigate the stability of interrelationships of the aptitudes of the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) during high school. GATB intercorrelations were obtained for comparable samples of 7,078 ninth graders and 6,167 twelfth graders from 168 schools. The matrices were significantly different, but the differences in individual correlations were small in size.     

Aptitudes and Self-Perceptions Relating to the Employability of the Emotionally Disabled

Since diagnosis or standard psychological tests are poor predictors of successful vocational rehabilitation of emotionally disabled individuals, it is suggested that information regarding aptitudes and the individual's self-perceptions be included in the process of assessing employability. Minimum aptitudes for selected occupations in 19 worker trait groups are cited from the GATB manual as a starting point in considering occupations with the restricted mental health population often referred for services. Important self-perceptions in assessing employability with this group include locus of control, realistic appraisal of limitations, values relevant to vocational choices, and self-conceptualization of skills.     

Use of the General Aptitude Test Battery to Predict Success on the Tests of General Educational Development

An increasing trend in recent years has been the desirability of a high school diploma either as an entrance qualification of employment or as a by-product of a training program. As a result of this trend, the tests of General Educational Development (GED) are, in many states, being seen as an alternative for many individuals who have neither the time nor the inclination to reenter high school or other formal educational programs to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent. The purpose of this article is to examine data from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) in an attempt to use that battery, or more appropriately, subtests of that battery to predict passage of the GED examination. Data were collected and analyzed from four different geographically diffuse states for both comparative and predictive capabilitites. It is concluded that the G and V scores on these subtests of the GATB (at 110 or greater on either of these aptitudes) indicate almost definite prediction for passage of the GED.     

Worker estimation of ability requirements of their jobs

A modified version of the Minnesota Job Requirements Questionnaire (MJRQ), representing the GATB aptitudes, was used by workers in 11 selected jobs to rate the ability requirements of their jobs. Worker MJRQ ratings were compared with supervisor MJRQ ratings. Modified Occupational Ability Patterns (OAPs) derived from worker ratings were compared with OAPs based on supervisor ratings, OAPs from expert ratings in the DOT, and OAPs from the empirical GATB approach. Reliability of worker MJRQ ratings was comparable to that of supervisor ratings. Comparisons of mean ratings and variability of ratings of workers in a job category with workers in other jobs, and with supervisors rating the same job, showed construct validity for worker MJRQ ratings, as did intercorrelations of the worker ratings. OAPs derived from worker MJRQ ratings compared favorably with OAPs derived from supervisor MJRQ ratings, from the DOT, and from the GATB. Differences among workers on variables such as satisfaction, age and tenure did not significantly affect their MJRQ ratings. Implications of the worker MJRQ ratings are discussed.     

LINKING O*NET JOB ANALYSIS INFORMATION TO JOB REQUIREMENT PREDICTORS: AN O*NET APPLICATION

This is an exploratory study that examined the possible application of the job component validity (JCV) model to identify potential employee selection instruments and to determine job requirement levels from O*NET job analysis data, following a research paradigm established with the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ). Job requirements were measured by mean aptitude test scores on the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB), and the ratings on the O*NET Generalized Work Activities (GWAs) were selected as representative O*NET job analysis data. Multiple correlation coefficients ranging from .35 to .89 were found when predicting mean GATB test scores from GWAs. Similar to JCV research some 30 years ago, predictions were strongest for cognitive aptitudes and weakest for manual dexterity. The data were examined under both rational and cross-validated empirical models. The results have positive implications for the development of a database that would support JCV estimates derived from O*NET job analysis data and allow practitioners to use O*NET data to help identify useful employee selection instruments.     

Predicting Success in Vocational Training By Using the GATB

This study examined the relationship between the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB)and class performance of eleventh- and twelfth-grade high school students enrolled in the Current River Area Vocational School, Doniphan, Missouri. Teachers' grades were used as the dependent variable, and the nine independent variables were scores taken from the aptitude factors of the GATB. The stepwise multiple regression technique was used to determine the optimal set of predictors to be used in establishing a regression equation. The results of the project should help in counseling prospective trainees toward trade or shop areas and tentative vocational planning. If not used out of perspective, the G variable in the GATB was the best single predictor of success; the best combination of variables was the G, N, P, F, and M aptitude factors.     

A Review of the Nonreading Aptitude Test Battery

This article re-examines data from the Nonreading Aptitude Test Battery (NATB) and General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) test manuals in light of some conventionally accepted psychometric considerations. The NATB standardization sample is adequate. However, the validity is open to question since the NATB demonstrates only a modest correlation with the GATB. It is recommended that caution be employed in relating NATB profiles to the Occupational Aptitude Patterns' norms. This is especially relevant since the NATB, lacking norms of its own, relies on GATB norms and its derived Occupational Aptitude Pattern (OAP).     

The future of the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) for use in public and private testing

Recently, there have been concerns raised about the General Aptitude Test Battery, an instrument used extensively by state and federal agencies to assess those seeking jobs. These concerns involved the legality of the present GATB scoring system (from an equal employment opportunity standpoint), as well as the psychometric quality and validity of the instrument. For these and other reasons, the National Research Council was contacted by the Department of Labor to examine the present GATB. This paper will discuss those concerns raised about the GATB, the conclusions reached by the National Research Council, and recent developments in legislation which directly effect use of the GATB.     

Estudio diferencial del pensamiento creador en los campos simbólico,semántico y figurativo

Resumen

Se plantea un intento de síntesis teórica y empírica entre dos aproximaciones al estudio del pensamiento creador: la asociativa y ta factorial.

Tras el análisis de las teorías de Mednick y Guilford como los modelos más sistemáticos en ambas orientaciones se realizó un estudio factorial con tres muestras de sujetos representativos de tres contenidos de pensamiento definidos en el modelo de Guilford: periodistas (contenido semántico), matemáticos (contenido simbólico) y pintores (contenido figurativo). Junto a una selección de tareas de la batería de Guilford para la medida del pensamiento divergente correspondientes a las tres áreas de información evaluadas, se aplicó el RAT de Mednick a los 171 sujetos. Se realizaron cuatro análisis factoriales, uno global y los otros diferenciando por grupos de sujetos.

Los resultados fueron una confirmación de la teoría factorial de la creatividad de Guilford, al definirse factorialmente tres aptitudes perfectamente diferenciadas en función de los contenidos, pero no se pudo confirmar la naturaleza asociativa de las aptitudes mentales de creatividad en los términos propuestos por Mednick, dada la ausencia de resultados significativos con respecto al RAT. Las conclusiones de este trabajo son inequívocamente confirmadoras de la versión propuesta en las hipótesis de la teoría de Guilford.     

Measuring Manual Dexterity with the GATB: Wooden versus Plastic Pegboards

As part of a ten-year longitudinal study of vocational development being conducted in the Department of Vocational Education at The Pennsylvania State University, it was decided to administer the GATB to an entire ninth grade class of 1,050 boys and girls. Because both wooden and plastic pegboards were being used to assess GATB aptitude manual dexterity (M), it was decided to compare the scores obtained on the two different types of boards. Results of the study indicate that those students who were tested using the wooden boards performed significantly better than did students tested on the plastic boards. Converted score differences for aptitude M ranged from 3 to 26 points with an average difference of 11 points.     

USE OF THE GATB “G” SCORE FOR PREDICTING ACHIEVEMENT ON THE GED

The present study investigates the relationship of the GATB “G” with the GED. Practical and theoretical implications are involved. Making use of samples from the Las Vegas, Nevada population, the study compares scores of individuals administered the GED and GATB. A substantial correlation for prediction purposes was devised to illustrate the use of the GATB “G” to predict, by interval, an individual's position on the GED. The expectancy table helps guide the Vocational Counselor with a constructive tool whereby he advises the next steps of action for an educationally deficient or proficient client. The study recommends further replications to determine if such studies could guide agency policies whereby vocational counseling practice is improved and agency testing costs reduced.     

A COMPARISON OF A DISADVANTAGED SAMPLE WITH A NATIONAL SAMPLE ON THE GATB

The GATB is widely used in making vocational decisions. The norms are based on a national sample tested in 1952. In the study reported here the GATB results of a sample of disadvantaged individuals were compared to the results of the 1952 sample. Significant differences were obtained for five variables: name comparison, computation, vocabulary, tool matching, and arithmetic reasoning. In each case the scores of the national sample were higher. The differences occurred on variables of an academic nature, although mean education was approximately the same in both samples. Some reasons for the differences are suggested in this article.     

GATB Longitudinal Maturation Study

This article describes results of the first in a series of three large-scale longitudinal studies conducted by the U.S. Employment Service to increase the usefulness of the GATB for counseling high school students. The final sample consisted of 26,708 high school students. All were tested with the GATB in 1958, and those in the lower high school grades were retested in the twelfth grade. Results were as follows: (1) Stability coefficients were highest for the eleventh grade sample and lowest for the ninth grade sample. (2) Interval between initial testing and retesting had very little relationship to size of practice effect. (3) Maturation increases were largest between the ninth and twelfth grade and smallest between the eleventh and twelfth grade. (4) OAP stability was increased through use of a “band” around the cutting scores.     

Factorial Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Innovative Behavior Questionnaire

The article presents an analysis of the factorial structure and measurement invariance of the Innovative Behavior Questionnaire, developed by Scott and Bruce. Although the instrument is widely used to capture individuals' innovative behavior, very little evidence concerning its psychometric properties is available. A time‐lagged study among 382 employees was conducted to check the factorial structure of the questionnaire, using confirmatory factor analysis, as well as its measurement invariance across gender and time. One‐factor structure (with correlated error terms of first three items) and strict invariance across time and across gender of the Innovative Behavior Questionnaire were demonstrated. As such, the measure can be used as a reliable tool for capturing individuals' innovative behavior by self‐report.     

一般能力倾向成套测验简介及其中国试用常模的修订

本文对一般能力倾向成套测验作了简要的介绍。为了试用,对它进行了修订。版本是以日本劳动省１９８３年修订版为蓝本的。日本的版本是来自美国。为了适合国情,对该测验在三个方面作了微小的变动。修订工作自１９８９—１９９２年初。标准化样组是由全国１７个中等以上城市初二至高三学生２１４８名构成的。男女学生的比例为１：１。该测验在结构效度上有很好的证据,稳定信度分数相当好。     

USE OF THE GATB IN PREDICTING SUCCESS ON THE TESTS OF GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

An attempt was made to determine how useful the General Aptitude Test Battery can be when used as a predictor of success on the Tests of General Educational Development. The General Ability and Verbal Aptitude subtests of the GATB were found to be the best predictors. Estimating the applicant's chance of passing the GED from the ‘G’ and ‘V’ scores was discussed.     

On the capacity of attention: its estimation and its role in working memory and cognitive aptitudes

Working memory (WM) is the set of mental processes holding limited information in a temporarily accessible state in service of cognition. We provide a theoretical framework to understand the relation between WM and aptitude measures. The WM measures that have yielded high correlations with aptitudes include separate storage-and-processing task components, on the assumption that WM involves both storage and processing. We argue that the critical aspect of successful WM measures is that rehearsal and grouping processes are prevented, allowing a clearer estimate of how many separate chunks of information the focus of attention circumscribes at once. Storage-and-processing tasks correlate with aptitudes, according to this view, largely because the processing task prevents rehearsal and grouping of items to be recalled. In a developmental study, we document that several scope-of-attention measures that do not include a separate processing component, but nevertheless prevent efficient rehearsal or grouping, also correlate well with aptitudes and with storage-and-processing measures. So does digit span in children too young to rehearse.