This study assessed sex differences in spontaneous wheel running and maze performance in relation to puberal status in rats. No sex differences were found prepuberally in either task whereas, postpuberally, females exceeded males in wheel running and males made fewer maze errors than females. Postpuberal males and females were less active than independent groups of prepuberal males and females, respectively. Although mature females made more errors than prepuberal females, no differences were found between independent groups of pre- and postpuberal males.

Contrary t o the statement made in our recent article (Krasnoff & Weston, 1976), the scoring system did differ from that described by Davenport, Hagquist, and Rankin (1970). Errors made in the zones labeled "2" by Davenport et al. were given an error score of "2" rather than "1." The different scoring system in our study as compared with that used by Davenport et al. and by Dawson, Cheung, and Lau (1973) could have influenced the magnitude of the gender differences in maze performance. Clearly, our scoring system inflates errors in relation t o the previous scoring method. sex-based cognitive abilities in the white rat. Psychologia,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] behavior in rats. Dev. Psychobiol., 9: 261-269.

A recent report on criticality accidents in nuclear facilities indicates that human error played a major role in a significant number of incidents with serious consequences and that some of these human errors may be related to the emotional state of the individual. A pre-shift test to detect a deleterious emotional state could reduce the occurrence of such errors in critical operations. The effectiveness of pre-shift testing is a challenge because of the need to gather predictive data in a relatively short test period and the potential occurrence of learning effects due to a requirement for frequent testing. This report reviews the different types of reliability and validity methods and testing and statistical analysis procedures to validate measures of emotional state. The ultimate value of a validation study depends upon the percentage of human errors in critical operations that are due to the emotional state of the individual. A review of the literature to identify the most promising predictors of emotional state for this application is highly recommended. 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThe author thanks the following individuals for their review and comments on the report and for their additional contributions as follows.Kathleen V. Diegert, Manager of Organization 12335, for providing program structure and for input on the scope of the project.Courtney C. Dornburg for participating in interviews with subject matter experts and providing input on the scope of the project.

No abstract

History has demonstrated that there is a pressing need for improved selection, training, and management procedures for fighter pilots. In World War II, only one in twenty pilots became an ece. The U.S. Air Force kill ratio in Southeast Asia was approximately 2.5 to 1. In contrast, the Israelis claim to have a kill ratio of 60 to 1.This feasibility study focuses upon enhancing our record of air-to-air combat kills through more stringent and comprehensive selection procedures. Specifically, empirical evidence is presented which demonstrates that a program can be developed to select pilots who will be effective in air-to-air combat.From reviews of U.S. and foreign selection research dating from World War II to the present and an assessment of pilot opinion from hundreds of aces, 45 factors were identified as potential predictors of combat effectiveness. Of these 45 factors, only 10 are adequately evaluated within current military selection programs upon entrance into pilot training. Assessment of the remaining 35 untapped factors is within our technological reach. In fact, many of these factors can be assessed by tests which are presently available.An Air Combat Effectiveness Study (ACES) program is recommended which would provide selection test measures for virtually all of the factors identified as underlying combat effectiveness. As part of the ACES program, selection test measures would be correlated with performance in air combat maneuvering ranges, thereby providing a method for selecting fighter pilots during peacetime.Armed with these selection test scores and an effectively executed validation program, researchers will, for the first time in history, be able to specify a definitive profile of the ace fighter pilot.