Attitudes as predictors of adjustment in extremely isolated groups

Abstract

333needs control but is unable to exercise it (without program modifications) is at the predictor-criterion variable interface. That is, the researcher wants to create groups which are maximally related to treatment and/or outcome criteria. REFERENCES 1. ASH, P. The reliability of psychiatric diagnosis. PROBLEM I n a recent study of selection for Antarctic service, the relative predictability of three occupational groups on five performance measures utilizing a variety of predictor sources was evaluated.(') This type of analysis was designed to aid in the identification of types of information which could contribute to prediction of adjustment a t small, extremely isolated Antarctic stations. One of the predictor sources utilized in this preliminary study was a set of attitude and personality self-description items similar t o those included in the present investigation. The present study includes a much more extensive sampling of attitude and personality items, much larger subject samples, and a more detailed analysis of predictorcriterion-group relationships than has been possible heretofore. PROCEDURESSs were 231 Navy personnel and 158 civilian scientists and technicians who participated in the United States Antarctic Research Program during the period 1963-1968. All were male. The mean age of Navy and scientist groups was approximately the same (27 years) ; 59% of the Navy men had completed high school while 66a/, of the scientist group were college graduates.Kavy men furnished construction, maintenance, and technical support a t each of the bases. Civilian scientists conducted research programs, mostly in the atmospheric and earth sciences, sponsored by the National Science Foundation.An attitude inventory, the Opinion Survey, was administered to all Ss as part of routine psychiatric screening several months before deployment to Antarctica. The 152 items utilized for analysis were those that were common to the inventory over most of the 6 years of the study. Responsvs were given on a *

Clustering 34 Occupational Groups By Personality Dimensions

“…The contents of the 13 scales developed from this inventory have been described elsewhere (Seymour and Gunderson, 1971). The scales were labeled as follows: Achievement, Autonomy, Nurturance, Orderliness, Usefulness, Boredom, Confidence in Medical Care (Confidence I), Confidence in Organization (Confidence II), Motivation, Decisiveness, Excitableness, Bluntness, and Absent-mindedness.…”

Prediction of performance on the International Biomedical Expedition to the Antarctic (IBEA)

“…Doll and others (1969) found the Opinion Survey useful in predicting the performance of naval construction and administrative staff, but not of scientists. Seymour and Gunderson (1971) used the same survey and found that the best performers were generally introverted with a strong dislike for obsessive neatness and cleanliness. The same Gunderson team of researchers developed and applied a new series of personality scales from the Firo-B Inventory; and found them to be good predictors of the overall social and emotional performance of administrative staff, and predictors of the leadership and overall performance of scientists but of little use with naval construction workers.…”

A voice from the field.

“…The author received Peace Corps training at Hilo, Hawaii, in 1963 and subsequently served a full two years in the field as a community development worker (Thailand VII) during 1964and 1961In 1966-1967 & Quarmby, 1969;and Taylor, 1969c). In another area, a number of evaluative and research reports are available which address the problems of both civilian and military volunteer selection for service in the Antarctic as well as the adaptation and performance of the volunteer in the field (a representative partial listing includes: Doll, Gunderson, & Ryman, 1969;Gunderson, , 1968Gunderson & Kapfer, 1966;Gunderson & Nelson, 1963, 1964, 196Sa, 196Sb, 1966Gunderson & Ryman, 1971;Law, 1960Law, , 1963Mullin, 1960;Nelson, 1963;Palmai, 1963aPalmai, , 1963bSeymour & Gunderson, 1971;Smith, 1961Smith, , 1966Smith & Jones, 1962;Taylor, 1969aTaylor, , 1969band Taylor & Shurley, 1971).…”