Learning Measures as Predictors of Success in Torpedoman's Mates School*

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a measure of learning ability that would predict success in Navy schools teaching mechanical‐motor skills. When combined with scores from the Navy Basic Test Battery, the learning measure was also expected to increase the predictive effectiveness obtainable from the Basic Battery alone.Learning ability was assessed in terms of a cumulative rate‐of‐work score based upon five administrations of the Breech Block Performance Test. A sound film describing the assembly of the breech block of a 40 mm. antiaircraft gun preceded each administration of the performance test.Participating in the study were 276 students in six consecutive classes at a Class “A” Torpedoman's Mates School. Separate analyses were provided for the students who came from recruit training stations and those who came from the fleet.The results of the study showed that the learning measure could be used by itself to predict success in the school about as effectively as was possible with many of the tests from the Basic Battery. Furthermore, when the learning scores were combined with scores from the Basic Battery, substantial gains in predictive efficiency were obtained. For the recruit subjects, the multiple correlation of the Basic Battery tests with final grades was .54. When the learning measure was combined with the Basic Battery, the multiple correlation rose to .62. For the fleet subjects, the corresponding correlation increased from .31 to .35.A second method for assessing learning ability was developed around a paper‐and‐pencil alternate for the assembly test. Although administered immediately after the performance test, this test nevertheless yielded significant correlations with the criteria. When the learning measures obtained from the paper‐and‐pencil test and the performance test were combined, their correlations with criterion measures were remarkably high, as compared with results obtained from the Basic Battery.Further research with both media for assessing learning ability was recommended.

Application of canonical correlational analysis to learning data.

“…The analysis clearly demonstrates the possibility of predicting a linear function of course grades from the learning measures derived from two simple objective tests. A canonical correlation analysis of Allison's (1954) data also revealed that the learning measures derived from the Breech Block Test alone predicted later success in Torpedoman's Mates School as effectively as many of the tests of Navy Basic Test Battery.…”

Differential Performance of Fleet and Recruit Personnel in Torpedoman's Mates School

“…However, the ECL-A scores did have significant negative correlations with the learning scores from the Breech Block Performance Test and indicates that fleet or recruit personnel who had had limited exl 1 perience in a variety of mechanical-motor tasks tended to earn low |: " scores on the learning task. Fcr the fleet subjects, there was also a significant correlation between the ECL-A and ECL-C scores and scores on the Mechanical Aptitude Test-…”