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The Validity of Some Objective Personality Tests for a Leadership Criterion

Author(s):
French, John Winslow, 1918-
Publication Year:
1951
Report Number:
RB-51-26
Source:
ETS Research Bulletin
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
21
Subject/Key Words:
Construct Validity, Leadership, Military Training, Personality Measures, Test Validity

Abstract

Eight objective tests developed to measure personality characteristics were given to entering cadets at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in the summer of 1949. It was hoped that some of these would be found to relate to the ratings of leadership potential made at the Academy. These tests and the rationales for them are described. The results are presented in the form of intercorrelations among a total of 19 scores on the 8 tests, 2 academic entrance examination scores, 2 leadership ratings, and average course grades. The results are slightly, but only slightly, encouraging for some of the tests. Criterion-keying and cross-validation was performed for some of the tests, again with results that can be considered just slightly encouraging.

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