Issues in the Development of a Competency Scale: Implications for Linking Job Performance and Aptitude

摘要

The selection of test content and the construction of job performance tests have not followed any specific methodology. Test content has often been limited to tasks that are: most frequently performed on the job, easily tested in the hands-on mode, or selected to maximize differences in individuals' performance. The problem with such test development procedures is that the resulting score scale allows for little, if any, independent interpretation of the test scores, other than normative comparisons. For the purpose of validating the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), such relative interpretations may suffice. But for determining qualification standards on the ASVAB, a more absolute interpretation is required of the performance test scores. Therefore, a systematic methodology is necessary for job performance test construction so that meaningful score interpretation and linkage with ASVAB will be possible. We now turn to examining these two critical components for constructing a competency scale for the hands-on tests for the Marine Corps infantry occupational field.