Predictive Validity of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery for Several US Air Force Enlisted Training Specialties

Abstract

Abstract : The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is used by all branches of the US Military for enlistment qualification and to assign qualified applicants to training specialties. The primary purpose of the current study was to examine the predictive validity of the US Air Force classification composites and the Armed Forces Qualification Test versus initial training performance. A secondary purpose was to determine whether switching from the current classification composite to another would improve prediction of training performance. The sample consisted of 117,232 enlisted personnel who attended training between 2006-2013. Data were available for 111 Air Force Specialties. High levels of predictive validity were observed for most training specialties. After correction for range restriction, the mean correlation between the current classification composite and training performance was .70, weighted by course sample size. Several instances were identified where the current classification composite for a training specialty was not the one with the highest predictive validity for that specialty. Additional analyses of training content and qualification rates for sex and racial/ethnic groups for the current and alternate composite are needed to determine whether switching from the current composite to another is warranted.