Generalized Thurstone and Guttman scales for measuring technical skills in job performance.

Post-Training Performance Criterion Development and Application. The Development of Unidimensional Scales for the Dimensions Derived From a Multidimensional Scale Analysis of the Job of the Naval Aviation Electronics Technician

“…In order for a scale to achieve the requirements of a Thurstone scale, equal-appearing between-scaie value distances are sought, To establish a scale by the Thurstone method of equal-appearing intervals, the median and semi-interquartile range of the judges' decisions are taken as the scale and (Schultz and Siegel, 1961;Siegel and Schultz, 1962). The Q values are, for the most part, fairly small, indicating relative agreement among the judges as to the task placement on the scales and suggesting the probability of good discrimination among the tasks.…”

“…Earlier studies investigated the hypothesis that job performance skills are scalable in the same manner as attitudes and sensory phenomena. The methods developed in those studies for producing job performance scales which meet Thurstone and/or Guttman requirements were tested for applicability across several related job specialties (Schultz and Siegel, 1961).…”

“…The application to the job task performance area of the Guttman method for scaling items has been investigated and demonstrated in Applied Psychological Services' studies previously mentioned (Schultz and Siegel, 1961;Siegel and Schultz, 1962). The technique involves testing the item response data to determine whether a hierarchy exists among the respondents such that each person's over-all position can be inferred from the highest item in the set to which he answers affirmatively.…”

“…These were the most recent efforts in a progressive, systematic attack on problems in the development of job proficiency criteria for graduates of Naval training programs in several technical specialties. Earlier studies (Schultz and Siegel, 1961;Siegel and Schultz, 1962) had produced methods for constructing job task performance criterion instruments which meet the Thurstone and/or Guttman scalability requirements…”

“…Those studies (Schultz and Siegel, 1961;Siegel and Schultz, 1962) involved the twin steps of: (1) demonstrating that job task skills are scalable according to the definitions of scalability of each of the two approaches, and (2) developing check lists of job tasks in a form that could be applied easily and economically in the evaluation of the job performance of individuals. Use of the check lists, which met the Thurstcne and the Guttman scalability requirements, called for simple, t.vo-category responses to clearly and directly stated questions.…”