Measuring occupational difficulty: A construct validation against training criteria.

Abstract

Burtch, Lipscomb, and Wissman's (1982) occupational learning difficulty index attempts to measure the difficulty of occupations by aggregating workers' evaluations of task learning time. In the present study we examined the construct validity of this job analysis index. To accomplish this, 48 different occupational training programs were described in terms of 15 training content variables, 6 student characteristics variables, and 7 training performance variables. The results, obtained in a correlational analysis, indicated that the occupational learning difficulty index yielded an interpretable pattern of relationships with the training content and performance variables. We conclude that this task learning time index displays some construct validity as a measure of occupational difficulty and, therefore, should prove of value in designing training, manpower allocation, and job evaluation systems.

Moderators of Skill Retention Interval/Performance Decrement Relationships in Eight U.S. Air Force Enlisted Specialties

“…As part of the USAF's periodic task inventory (Occupational Survey) job analyses of AFSs, data are collected on the learning difficulty of tasks performed by incumbents (see Burtch, Lipscomb, & Wissman, 1982;Mumford et al, 1987;Weeks, 1984). For this study, we used task learning difficulty indexes obtained from the occupational survey conducted just prior to each AFS's JPM data collection to index task difficulty.…”

Joint Relationships of Task Proficiency With Aptitude, Experience, and Task Difficulty: A Cross-Level, Interactional Study

“…For example, Rousseau (1978) investigated relations between departmental size, structure, and technology, and individual perceptions of role and job characteristics. Interest in cross-level research has grown in sociology (Borgatta & Jackson, 1980), political science (Irwin & Lichtman, 1976), and education (Tate, 1985), and recently in organizational research on leadership (Dienesch & Liden, 1986), technology (busseau, 1977), climate (Click, 1985;James, 1982), occupational analysis (Mumford, Weeks, Harding, & Fleishman, 1987), and the assessment of the economic effectiveness of human resource activities (Steffy & Maurer, 1988). There has, however, been very little cross-level research on determinants of human performance.…”

Evaluating Classifications of Job Behavior: A Construct Validation of the Ability Requirement Scales

“…We are not the first investigators to call for the validation of job analysis systems McCormick, 1979). In fact, Chesler (1948), Levine, Ash, and Bennett (1980), Mumford, Weeks, Harding, and Fleishman (1987), Myers, Gebhardt, Price, and Fleishman (1981), and Rupe (1956) have conducted studies intended to appraise the meaningfulness of certain job analysis systems. Wagner (1985), for instance, attempted to appraise the meaningfulness of task data by assessing convergence with aircraft maintenance reports.…”

“…Wagner (1985), for instance, attempted to appraise the meaningfulness of task data by assessing convergence with aircraft maintenance reports. Similarly, Mumford et al (1987) considered how inferences derived from a job analysis method yielding measures of occupational difficulty were borne out in the actual training course content of Air Force technical schools. Levine et al (1980) used professional judgment to establish the meaningfulness of the descriptive information provided by alternative job analysis systems for different kinds of personnel interventions.…”