Ability requirements as a function of changes in the characteristics of an auditory signal identification task.

Abstract

Examined the nature of changes in abilities contributing to individual differences in a criterion task (auditory signal identification) when 2 task characteristics (signal duration and signal-to-noise ratio) were systematically varied. 127 male college students performed under 9 different conditions on the criterion task (3-, 6-, or 9-sec signal durations, and -5 db, 0 db, and 5 db signal-to-noise ratios), as well as on a battery of 24 printed and auditory ability measures (e.g., Object-Number, Gestalt Completion, and Hidden Tunes tests). Variations in the 2 task characteristics were found to increase task difficulty. Of the 6 ability factors identified, one (Auditory Perceptual) predicted criterion task performance, and this prediction increased systematically as each manipulation increased the task's difficulty. It was possible to specify the task characteristics under which the ability was least critical and most critical to criterion performance. Implications of the results for linking ability requirements and task characteristics are discussed. (29 ref)

Evaluating Classifications of Job Behavior: A Construct Validation of the Ability Requirement Scales

“…He found, for example, that progressive rotation of the display from an upright position shifted ability requirements from perceptual speed to spatial orientation and spatial visualization. A later study (Wheaton, Eisner, Mirabella, & Fleishman, 1976) confirmed these findings with an auditory-perceptual task, showing systematic changes in ability requirements with changes in signal intensity and signal-noise ratios.…”

Person‐situation Selection: A Review of Some Ability‐situation Interaction Research

“…Summary. Three different situational attributes, incentive systems (Dunnette, Note 2; Weinstein and Holzbach, 1973), task characteristics (Weinstein and Holzbach, 1973;Wheaton et al, 1976) and work climates (Frederiksen et al, Note 3; were shown to have effects on ability-performance relationships when the situation was experimentally manipulated.…”

“…Task Characteristics. Fleishman and his colleagues (Fleishman, 1957(Fleishman, , 1972Wheaton, Eisner, Mirabella, and Fleishman, 1976) investigated the way in which task characteristics interact with ability in affecting performance. At a superficial level, Fleishman's work sounds like the typical personnel selection strategy-analyze the job, define the ability requirements and hire someone with the required attributes.…”

“…However, Fleishman has taken an approach that resulted in an investigation of ability-performance relationships as a function of the (experimentally manipulated) difficulty of the task. Thus in the most recent study (Wheaton et al, 1976), 127 male subjects took a battery of 24 tests and performed an auditory signal detection task that was brought under experimental control (the difficulty manipulation) by manipulating signal duration and signal-to-noise ratio. Results indicated that (Wheaton et al, 1976, p. 674): "In general, the contribu-tions of the ability measure to individual differences in performance increased as the criterion task become more difficult.…”

Field Dependence Revisited

“…; Horn & Cat t e I l., 1967; Royce. 1973 & Friedman, 1958;Horn, 1973;Jackson, 1955;Karlin, 1942;Wheaton, Shaffer, Mirabella, & Fleishman, 1973;White, 1954;Williams, 1969;Witkin, Oltman, Chase, & Friedman, 1971). Correlations between visual and auditory tests have been reported in some of these studies.…”