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Accession Number:
ADA455689
Title:
Evaluation of Adverse Impact for US Air Force Officer and Aircrew Selection Tests
Descriptive Note:
Interim rept. Nov 2005-May 2006
Corporate Author:
AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH HUMAN EFFECTIVENESS DIRECTORATE
Report Date:
2006-05-01
Pagination or Media Count:
93.0
Abstract:
Adverse impact issues have posed a challenge to military personnel selection. The purpose of the current study was to examine group differences in performance on tests used to qualify applicants for US Air Force officer commissioning and aircrew training programs. In particular, the impact of raising minimum qualifying scores on selection ratios for majority and minority groups was examined. Results indicated that strict application of the current minimum qualifying standards, along with top-down selection of qualified applicants, would lead to adverse impact for females and racialethnic minorities for both officer commissioning and aircrew training programs. Future test development should focus on the identification of tests that preserve the predictive validity of USAF personnel selection tests while minimizing subgroup differences. Reduction of adverse impact across all subgroups is a challenging issue. Sometimes changes in test content or the addition of a new test may reduce adverse impact for one subgroup but worsen it for another. Setting low minimum qualifying scores allows a greater range of applicants to be considered for training or job opportunities, but may adversely affect organizational performance i.e., increase training requirements, reduce job performance. Minimum qualifying scores should be based on empirical research e.g., job anal sis identify in the ability requirements for successful performance of the jobs being targeted.
Distribution Statement:
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
