Evaluating potential officer effectiveness in a training situation.

A situational performance test was developed for evaluating potential Air Force officer effectiveness during the officer training program. For the 480 members of an AF Candidate School graduating class reliability of scoring (examiner-observer agreements on a behavior check list) was .75. Correlations between the total test score and Officer Candidate School evaluation measures were in the range .21—.25. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role of ability and prior knowledge in complex training performance.

A causal model of the role of general cognitive ability and prior job knowledge in subsequent job-knowledge acquisition and work-sample performance during training was developed. Participants were 3,428 US Air Force officers in pilot training. The measures of ability and prior job knowledge came from the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test. The measures of job knowledge acquired during training were derived from classroom grades. Work-sample measures came from check flight ratings. The causal model showed that ability directly influenced the acquisition of job knowledge. General cognitive ability influenced work samples through job knowledge. Prior job knowledge had almost no influence on subsequent job knowledge but directly influenced the early work sample. Early training job knowledge influenced subsequent job knowledge and work-sample performance. Finally, early work-sample performance strongly influenced subsequent work-sample performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evidence that task performance should be distinguished from contextual performance.

Tests the merit of the distinction made by W. C. Borman and S. J. Motowidlo (1993) between task performance and contextual performance. Supervisors rated 421 US Air Force mechanics on their task performance, contextual performance, and overall performance. Data on length of Air Force experience, ability, training performance, and personality were also available for many of these mechanics. Results show that both task performance and contextual performance contribute independently to overall performance. Experience is more highly correlated with task performance than with contextual performance, and personality variables are more highly correlated with contextual performance than with task performance. These results support the distinction between task performance and contextual performance and confirm that performance, at least as judged by supervisors is multidimensional. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An epidemiological investigation of eperythrozoon infection in human and animals (II)

This is the second of two studies done to determine whether moderate Gz exposure facilitates back disability. Cumulative trauma (repeated moderate to high G) exposures could be a precipitant of back pain in the military population. There is at present no reliable method of predicting who will suffer from back pain. We looked at officer back disability rates at separation from the Air Force (1972-1993). We compared non-rated Air Force officers to pilots and navigators exposed to low G and moderate to high G. We found no significant differences between aircrew and non-aircrew individuals until 1985, when the rates for aircrew fell below those of non-rated officers. Moderate G exposure does not seem to be a predictor of subsequent back disability. We recommend a larger prospective study of all rated and non-rated officers. We recommend that each separating officer undergo a detailed physical examination and answer a detailed back questionnaire.     

Motivation and cognitive abilities: An integrative/aptitude-treatment interaction approach to skill acquisition.

Two central constructs of applied psychology, motivation and cognitive ability, were integrated within an information-processing (IPR) framework. This framework simultaneously considers individual differences in cognitive abilities, self-regulatory processes of motivation, and IPR demands. Evidence for the framework is provided in the context of skill acquisition, in which IPR and ability demands change as a function of practice, training paradigm, and timing of goal setting (GS). Three field-based lab experiments were conducted with 1,010 US Air Force trainees. Exp 1 evaluated the basic ability–performance parameters of the air traffic controller task and GS effects early in practice. Exp 2 evaluated GS later in practice. Exp 3 investigated the simultaneous effects of training content, GS and ability–performance interactions. Results support the theoretical framework and have implications for notions of ability–motivation interactions and design of training and motivation programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A behavioral decision theory approach for measuring McClelland's trichotomy of needs.

Describes the initial research associated with a new approach for measuring D. C. McClelland's trichotomy of needs. The method is based on behavioral decision theory and involves modeling an individual's decision-making behavior to determine how the person weights his or her need for affiliation, need for power (nPow), and need for achievement (nAch) in arriving at decisions. 161 scientists and engineers, 149 US Air Force officer graduate students, and 94 management executives were involved in this initial validation effort. All 8 hypotheses concerning inter- and intragroup relationships and concurrent validity issues were supported. The dominant motive for scientists, engineers, and graduate students was nAch, whereas nPow was dominant for management executives. Scientists, engineers, and graduate students had higher nAch scores than management executives, who had the highest nPow scores. Student GPA correlated with nAch, and officer performance scores correlated with nPow. Scientists and engineers who published had higher nAch scores than those who did not. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An evaluation of the effectiveness of the culture assimilator in Thailand and Greece.

Gave 45 United States Air Force and civilian advisors in Thailand, and 76 United States Army advisors in Greece, culture training in the form of either the Thai or Greek culture assimilator, a series of essays (Thailand), or no training at all (Greece). Questions concerning the S's impression of his performance and adjustment in the foreign country constituted the main dependent measure. Assimilator-trained Ss felt that they were more productive and had somewhat better interpersonal relations with the Thais than did essay-trained Ss. Results were replicated for assimilator-trained Ss in Greece when their ratings were compared to Ss who received no training. The culture assimilator appears to be of value as a culture-training device for Americans stationed abroad. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A factorial study of adjustment to stress.

Ratings of personality and officer aptitude, objective and projective personality tests, measures of performance in stressful situations, the conditioning of the galvanic skin response, perceptual tests, and the analysis of urinary components were studied on 135 Air ROTC cadets at the University of Texas in a search for common factors of value in the prediction of adjustment to stress. Analysis of the inter-correlation matrix yielded 7 factors. In general, the degree of relationship among the measures derived from the different types of tests was very low. 21 references. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethical dilemmas and U.S. Air Force clinical psychologists: A survey.

Although psychologists work in widely varying settings, all encounter ethical dilemmas. Those who are also officers in the U.S. Air Force have the double burden of upholding the ethics code of psychologists while also supporting the mission of the Air Force. Does this create unique ethical dilemmas? To address this issue, the authors sent active-duty Air Force psychologists a questionnaire asking them to describe recent ethical conflicts. These conflicts are discussed as they relate to the "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" (American Psychological Association, 1992) and in comparison with civilian practice. Results suggest a broad range of concerns but center on those related to perceived conflicts between the Air Force mission and the ethical demands of psychologists. Recommendations for dealing with ethical conflicts at the organizational level are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hazardous drinking and military community functioning: Identifying mediating risk factors.

Objective: Hazardous drinking is a serious societal concern in military populations. Efforts to reduce hazardous drinking among military personnel have been limited in effectiveness. There is a need for a deeper understanding of how community-based prevention models apply to hazardous drinking in the military. Community-wide prevention efforts may be most effective in targeting community functioning (e.g., support from formal agencies, community cohesion) that impacts hazardous drinking via other proximal risk factors. The goal of the current study is to inform community-wide prevention efforts by testing a model of community functioning and mediating risk factors of hazardous drinking among active duty U.S. Air Force personnel. Method: A large, representative survey sample of U.S. Air Force active duty members (N = 52,780) was collected at 82 bases worldwide. Hazardous drinking was assessed with the widely used Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (Saunders, Aasland, Babor, de la Fuente, & Grant, 1993). A variety of individual, family, and community measures were also assessed. Structural equation modeling was used to test a hypothesized model of community functioning, mediating risk factors and hazardous drinking. Results: Depressive symptoms, perceived financial stress, and satisfaction with the U.S. Air Force were identified as significant mediators of the link between community functioning and hazardous drinking for men and women. Relationship satisfaction was also identified as a mediator for men. Conclusions: These results provide a framework for further community prevention research and suggest that prevention efforts geared at increasing aspects of community functioning (e.g., the U.S. Air Force Community Capacity model) may indirectly lead to reductions in hazardous drinking through other proximal risk factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality correlates of leadership development in Canadian Forces officer candidates.

This study investigated the relationship between personality and leadership development in a sample of Canadian Forces officer candidates. At Time 1, personality assessments were obtained from candidates, interviewers, and references at various Canadian Forces Recruiting Centres. Six to nine months later at Time 2, 174 military officer candidates were evaluated by instructors and peers on various aspects of the Basic Officer Training Course (BOTC). Results revealed that BOTC final grade and instructors' ratings of leadership were predicted by self-ratings of the Locus of control factor and its subordinate trait, internal control. Also, the references' ratings of the Surgency factor and its subordinate trait, dominance, predicted the BOTC final grade and ratings of leadership. Four years later at Time 3, we examined the extent to which self-ratings of personality obtained at Time 1 predicted leadership performance and perceptions of leadership styles. Dominance, energy level, and internal control predicted some leadership criteria, with dominance predicting the most. Overall, these results indicate that measures of personality are associated with leadership development in the military. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of task performance and contextual performance on systemic rewards.

Evidence from 2 samples of Air Force mechanics supported the hypothesis that contextual performance affects employees' career advancement and rewards over time. Results of hierarchical regressions controlling for experience showed task performance and contextual performance each predicted systemic rewards. Each facet explained separate variance in promotability ratings over 2 years. In both samples, contextual performance explained separate variance in informal rewards but task performance did not. Task performance explained incremental variance in career advancement 1 year later but contextual performance did not. Analyses using correlations corrected for unreliability suggest these results cannot be attributed to measurement error. Contextual performance still explained separate variance in informal rewards, and task performance explained distinct variance in career advancement a year later. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stress management training for military trainees returned to duty after a mental health evaluation: Effect on graduation rates.

A significant proportion of people entering the military are discharged within the first 6 months of enlistment. Mental health related problems are often cited as the cause of discharge. This study evaluated the utility of stress inoculation training in helping reduce the attrition of a sample of Air Force trainees at risk for discharge from basic military training. Participants were 178 trainees referred for a psychological evaluation from basic training. Participants were randomly assigned to a 2-session stress management group or a usual-care control condition. Compared with past studies that used less rigorous methodology, this study did not find that exposure to stress management information increased the probability of graduating basic military training. Results are discussed in terms of possible reasons for the lack of treatment effects and directions for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The training of a perceptual skill by either rewarding or aversive feedback compared on efficiency, transfer, and stress.

Trained 40 male United States Air Force Academy students on a range-estimation task. Ss were randomly assigned to either Group RFB, those given feedback by their actual range plus a verbal reinforcer if they were within a given range, or Group SFB, those given feedback by their actual range plus a 60-V electric shock if they were outside the given range. Learning curves show no differences in the groups during training. After training to asymptote, there were no significant differences on the transfer variable, but Group SFB's performance was superior under stress (p     

Operationalizing the Moskos institution-occupation model: An application of Gouldner's cosmopolitan-local research.

Evaluated the problems of developing and validating measures of institutional–occupational orientations in the US Air Force. The measures were developed by modifying A. W. Gouldner's (see PA, Vol 33:4757 and 33:8067) cosmopolitan–local measurement. A questionnaire was administered that contained 8 attitudinal items concerning military and civilian life, a measure of career intent, a job satisfaction measure, and several demographic questions. Factor analysis of the 8 attitudinal items revealed 2 independent dimensions: Institutional and Occupational Orientations. Hypothesized differences between various demographic groups in a survey of 10,687 Air Force personnel of various grades, seniority levels, and educational levels were observed. The Institutional orientation was positively associated with career intent, seniority, and job satisfaction, whereas the Occupational orientation was negatively associated with those criteria. It is concluded that the developed measures provide the means to assess trends longitudinally in the military, as posited by C. Moskos (1977). (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct models of task performance.

A covariance structure model was tested that related 3 classes of predictors (ability, experience, and supervisor support) to several classes of criteria of task performance (rated performance by self, supervisor, and peers, a work sample test, and training success). The model was tested for 3 categories of tasks (installation of engine parts, inspection of components, and forms completion), using data for 201 first-term U.S. Air Force jet engine mechanics. Ability explained significant variance in training success for 3 categories, in rated performance for 2 categories, and in work sample performance for 1 category. Experience explained substantial variance in rated performance for 3 categories, and in work sample performance for 2 categories. Supervisor support did not explain significant variance in any category. The task models have potential usefulness as the beginnings of a generalizable task taxonomy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Paediatric gynaecology: an overview of current practice

OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive assessment of smoking prevalence and risks for smoking in an entire population of United States Air Force (USAF) military basic trainees (n = 32,144). DESIGN: Population-based survey with every individual entering the USAF enlisted force from August 1995 to August 1996. SETTING: USAF Basic Military Training (BMT) facility at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. All trainees were assessed during the first week of BMT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A 53-item questionnaire was developed to assess four domains: demographics, smoking history, risk factors for smoking, and other health behaviours. RESULTS: Approximately 32% of the trainees smoked regularly before basic training and a small percentage of the trainees (7.6%) described themselves as ex-smokers. Men, Euro-Americans, and those from lower educational backgrounds were more likely to smoke than other trainees. On average, smokers had smoked for approximately four years and had low nicotine dependence scores. Individuals who had smoked before BMT were more likely to use other drugs (such as alcohol, binge drinking, smokeless tobacco), and were less physically active than never-smokers. These findings were particularly strong for those who smoked up to basic training but were also evident for ex-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking is a prevalent risk factor among individuals entering the USAF. Furthermore, smoking was related to other risk factors believed to lower military readiness, including alcohol use and decreased physical activity. Comprehensive tobacco control policies aimed at reducing smoking among military trainees are needed.     

Analysis of the Design-Build Delivery Method in Air Force Construction Projects

The design-build (DB) method for construction project delivery continues to grow in both the private and public sector; additionally, research has shown that the DB method outperforms the design-bid-build (DBB) method. The Air Force has applied the results of these previous research efforts to its military construction (MILCON) program without performing empirical studies to validate the approach. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the performance of the DB delivery method with the traditional DBB approach for the Air Force MILCON program. Data related to 835 (278 DB and 557 DBB) MILCON projects for fiscal years 1996–2006 were subsequently analyzed. The DB method had better performance in three of six metrics with the performance being significantly better for cost growth and the number of modifications per million dollars. The traditional DBB method performed significantly better in terms of total project time. Furthermore, the DB method was best suited for various facility types. This study provides empirical evidence of how the DB method provides an advantage over the traditional DBB method for Air Force MILCON projects.