The authors investigated the relationship between adolescent occupational aspirations and midlife career success. The model for adolescent occupational aspirations was derived from Gottfredson's (1981) theory of circumscription and compromise. The authors hypothesized that parental socioeconomic status (SES), ability, and gender predict adolescent…

The effectiveness of 19 methods of smoothing was investigated as those methods apply to the equipercentile method of test equating. Seven methods involved smoothing the score distribution before the tests were equated (presmoothing). Seven involved smoothing the resultant points after the equating (postsmoothing). Five methods involved combining…

The purpose of this paper was to examine the factor structure of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, Forms 8, 9, and 10. The analyses provided evidence of the replicability of ability constructs across diverse samples. (Author/PN)

Validity differences for a "g" (general factor of intelligence) score calculated on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) alone versus the ASVAB plus 9 experimental tests were determined for 3,922 military recruits. A validity gain of potential utility was observed for hands-on performance measures. (SLD)

Several confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) with a nationally representative sample of 11,078 subjects. Based on fit indexes, simple structure, and parsimony in parameter estimation, a three-factor hierarchical model was chosen. Two factors resemble those of P. E. Vernon (1969).…

This report investigates the appropriateness of using the General Technical (GT) composite of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) as a reenlistment criterion. Three aptitude measures, all ASVAB composites, were compared to measures of proficiency in job performance: the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT), the GT, and the…

The purpose of this research is to examine the factor structure of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), Forms 8, 9, and 10. The ASVAB consists of ten subtests: General Science; Arithmetic Reasoning; Word Knowledge; Paragraph Comprehension; Numerical Operations; Coding Speed; Auto Shop Information; Mathematics Knowledge;…

The validity of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) in predicting mechanical job performance was studied with 891 automotive and 522 helicopter mechanics. The mechanical maintenance component of the ASVAB predicted hands-on performance, job knowledge, and training grades quite well, but experience was more predictive of…

Using simulated item response data, the performance of several "robust" and conventional schemes for ability estimation was evaluated in conjunction with logistic item response theory models (one, two, and three parameter models). The simulated item response data were generated using a model that is more complex than are the usual…

Forty-six tests from the Kit of Factor-Referenced Cognitive Tests, published by the Educational Testing Service, were used in an investigation of the factor structure of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The overall kit contains 72 fairly short tests that have been developed to serve as markers for 23 factors that appear in the…

The purpose of this resarch was to develop a model of verbal information processing for use in subsequent analyses of the construct and predictive validity of the current Department of Defense military selection and classification battery, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) 8/9/10. The theory and research methods of selected…

In connection with the development of item pools for the Navy's experimental Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) system, items in five different content areas (General Science, Paragraph Composition, Word Knowledge, Math Knowledge, and Arithmetic Reasoning) have been calibrated using item response theory (IRT) methodology. Operational Armed…

The purpose of this study was to determine how 16 Navy (self-paced) and 18 Marine Corps (group-paced) Aviation Storekeeper Schools students would perform on the same test, assessing mastery of an identical topic related to the selected variables of learning styles and Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test scores. No significant…

The Navy Personnel Research and Development Center is developing a computerized adaptive test (CAT) administration, scoring, and reporting system for use in the selection and classification of military applicants. Scaling of the CAT version of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) will produce CAT scores comparable to the current…

The Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) project is a joint Armed Services coordinated effort to develop and evaluate a system for automated, adaptive administration of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). The CAT is a system for administering personnel tests that differs from conventional test administration in two major…