Assessment of Assembling Objects (AO) for Improving Predictive Performance of the Armed Forces Qualification Test

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to examine whether the Assembling Objects test (AO) should be added to the AFQT predictor composite. The investigation included a literature review and analysis of data from Army Classification project. Analyses included regressions with 20 different criteria, subgroup analyses, and bias analyses. Findings suggest that the Army should consider including the AO subtest in the AFQT predictor composite. Adding the AO subtest to the AFQT composite would likely increase the prediction of performance and job knowledge, while potentially decreasing the subgroup predictor differences between Hispanic and white subgroups. Although adding the AO subtest to the AFQT composite may increase the subgroup predictor differences of female and black subgroups relative to their respective majority comparison groups, results suggest that any additional subgroup differences would be borne out in performance differences, and that the revised AFQT composite would thus be fair and unbiased to minority groups. Future research should examine the degree to which these findings differ across job clusters, where cluster members are similar in terms of abilities needed to perform the work.