Performance-Based Tests, Personality Attributes, and Training Outcome among Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) Vehicle Operators

Abstract

To d a t e , only l i m i t e d e n t r y requirements e x i s t f o r s e l e c t i o n of v e h i c l e o p e r a t o r s f o r t h e U. S. Navy l a n d i n g craft a i r cushion (LCAC) v e h i c l e t r a i n i n g program. What t h e s e requirements should be has not been e m p i r i c a l l y determined, hence a r e s e a r c h e f f o r t i n t h i s area is needed. An a d d i t i o n a l impetus f o r such research h a s been a series of c o s t l y a c c i d e n t s r e s u l t i n g from o p e r a t o r e r r o r . Our o b j e c t i v e s were t o develop a c o g n i t i v e , psychomotor, multiple-task, and personality-oriented test b a t t e r y having t h e p o t e n t i a l t o p r e d i c t t h e t r a i n i n g outcome of LCAC o p e r a t o r s and s e r v i n g as an LCAC-personnel s c r e e n i n g system. Automated tests used included Dichotic Listening, Psychomotor, Manikin, One-dimensional Compensatory Tracking, D i g i t Cancellation, and Risk-taking. Dichotic L i s t e n i n g test. Training grade a l s o c o r r e l a t e d w i t h t h e s t i c k -r u d d e r -t h r o t t l e c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e Psychomotor t a s k and w i t h t h e One-dimensional CompensatoryTracking t a s k when performed i n combination w i t h t h e D i g i t Cancellation task. tendencies were a l s o s i g n i f i c a n t l y related t o o v e r a l l t r a i n i n g grade. These f i n d i n g s suggest t h a t components o f the test b a t t e r y have t h e p o t e n t i a l t o p r e d i c t LCAC t r a i n i n g performance.S i g n i f i c a n t p r e d i c t o r s o f t r a i n i n g grade criteria included a m u l t i p l e Risk-taking

Performance Differences in Psychomotor and Dichotic Listening Tests among Landing Craft Air Cushion Vehicle Operator Trainees

“…Further details and test descriptions of the DLT may be found elsewhere (Griffin, 1987: Nontasak, Dolgin, andGriffin, 1989).…”

Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) Crew Selection System Manual.

“…In a concurrent validity study of LCAC fleet crew performance on the LCSS (Nontasak, Dolgin, & Griffin, 1989), several psychomotor tests were significantly correlated with measures of success in LCAC training. As psychomotor tests became more complex, their association with training criteria strengthened.…”