Construction of the Mechanical and Electrical Information Test for Women

摘要

Information on the level of performance to be expected of women in specified job areas is essential to effective Army planning for maximal utilization of enlisted women in the event of mobilization. Through a series of research studies, jobs in the electronics and electrical maintenance areas were selected for intensive study of the performance potential of enlisted women. The first step in the planned research study is to select from enlisted women volunteers for training in these areas those who are likely to complete the technical training successfully. For the initial study, women will be selected on the basis of their scores on the Electronic Aptitude Area (EL), the currently operational composite for EM. However, the Mechanical Aptitude Test (MA) and the Electronics Information Test (ELI), which comprise the EL composite, were developed on a male sample and may not be appropriate for women. The American culture has different expectations from women than from men and provides women with only limited exposure to such activities as the handling of mechanical and electrical equipment. In fact, the operational MA and ELI tests have been assessed for enlisted women and found to be too difficult to yield effective discrimination. The present Research Memorandum describes the construction of the Mechanical and Electrical Information Test for Women (MEIT-W-1XR), which is intended to meet the need for an instrument more appropriate for use with women. (Author)