Computing AFQT Scores From Historical Data

1 AD-A263 893 cRM 92-80/August 1992 Computing afqt ScoresFrom Historical DataPaul W. MayberryCatherine M. HiattDTICELECTEMAY07 1993E D50 Years A p ubfl4-C A1992 IIbCENTER FOR NAVAL ANALYSES4,91 Fordi Avenue * Post Offict Box 1CZ268 * Alexa=nra, Virginia 22302-026893-09916o 004 IForm ApprovedREPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE OPMi No. ~icmpal bhedamedd for " iast coleut fioczaon os cstrAWto Sesad eawosaro, t bisbdr smka-- te aoso k. ciesa oslAMUM t datasm Pwds. and ibm lew ft olleum of eusormasdsmors a o p dsesses-f'ootm aet . 5~of afa amuue # stloWo Wda h bur&x. soWbmio qursrrs Ser-amt Durectoruze far Icrctonss Operatow and Reports. 12115 kifersot Dao i tumay. 524. Aiiitpeni. VA U2220-32. wri tofte =1c o ion &M~R olasotv Aftmon Offixe of Wrumn~es snd IL4es. Wassiborw. DC 2%031. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave Slads) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVEREDI August 1992 Final4.

2 TITLE AND 5. FUNDING NUMBERS* Computing afqt Scores Fmcn Ilistoric-Ai data C -N00014-91-C-002PE -65153M6. AUTo-OR(S)Paul W. Maybenry. Catherine M. Mil R 07. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) S. PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONREPORT NUMBERC enter for Naval Analyses CRM 92-804401 Ford AvenueAlexandria. Virginia 22302-02689. SPONSORINGIMIONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRE:SS(rES) 10. SPONSORINGIONITORING AGENCYC ommanding General REPORT NUM1 BERM arine Corps Combat Development Command (WF 13F)Studies and Analyses BranchQuansico, Virginia 22134It. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTESM2. DISTRIBUTONIAVAILAILITY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODEA pproved for Public Release; Distnibution Unlimited13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)The Armed Forces Qualificai ion Test (AIFQT) serves as an initial screen for military selection. afqt Scores must accurately reflect the quality of recruits whoenter the services and must mnaintain the same -neaning and interpretation over time.

3 Unfortunately, several changes in the afqt and other problems makesuch histonical computations and ftcore interpretations difficult. This research memorandum details these past problems and presents solutions that willallow for she proper computation of curent afqt Scores from Historical SUBJECT TERMS T i NU\IJllR 01: PAGESArQT (Armed for-cs qualific,3tion test), Aptitude tests , AS VABl (Armed scrvicei vocational aptitude battery). Computer _____programs, Quality, Problems, Scoring, ITables ( data ), lest score % 16 PRICE COD)E17. SECURITY CIA LiFinCAYF 4 IS 'RITY CLASSIFICATION I19 SECLURIT*Y CLASSIFICATION I20 LIMITATION 'M AIJSTRAI"rCF' 1O~T i I Ills PAGE by ANSI SO 239 11N99 015 OYears5 'A1992 CENTER FOR NAVAL ANALYSES4401 Ford Avenue 9 Post Office Box 16268 0 Alexandria, Virginia 22302-0268 * (703) 824-20005 October 1992 SMEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTION LISTSubj: CNA Research Memorandum 92-80 Encl: (1) CNA Research Memorandum 92-80, Computing afqt Scores FromHistorical data , by Paul W.

4 Mayberry and Catherine M. Hiatt,Aug 19921. Enclosure (1) is forwarded as a matter of possible The Armed Forces Qualification Test ( afqt ) serves as an initialscreen for military selection. afqt Scores must accurately reflect thequality of recruits who enter the services and must maintain the samemeaning and interpretation over time. Unfortunately, several changes inthe afqt and other problems make such Historical computations and scoreinterpretations difficult. This research memorandum details these pastproblems and presents solutions that will allow for the proper computa-tion of current afqt Scores from Historical J. bykrotDirectorManpower and Training ProgramLAcceonl ForDistribution L:.st: NTIS CRA&IReverse page DTIG TABU nannounced UJUiStiticatiofl" 'B y ..Dist, ibution IAvailability CodesAvail and I orDistAI, 'Subj: Center for Naval Analyses Research Memorandumn 92-80 Distribution ListSNDLAl DASN -MANPOWER (2 copies)AlH ASSTSECNAV MRAA2A CNRAS CHNAVPERSAS PERS-2A5 PERS-SAS PERS-11A6 CG MCRDAC -WashingtonAft HQMC AVNA6 HQMC MPR & RAAttn: Code MRAttn: Code UPAttn: Code MMAttn: Code MA (3 copies)Attn: Code MPP-54A6 HQMC PP&OFF?

5 8 USNAAttn: Nimitz LibraryFF42 NAVPGSCOLFF44 NAVWARCOLFJA1 NAVPERSRANDCENAttn: Technical Dirctor (Code 01)Attn: Technical LibraryAttn: Dir., Manpower Systems (Code 11)Attn: Dir., Personnel Systems (Code 12)FJB 1 COMNAVCRUITCOMFrl CNETV12 CG MAGTECV12 CG MCCDCAttn: Studies and Analyses BranchAttn: Director, Warfighting CenterAttn: Warfighting Center, MAGTF Propenency and Requiremewnts B~nnh (2 zopie,;)V12 CG MCRDAC -QuanticoOTHERJ oint Service Job Performance Measurement Working Group (12 copies)Military Accession Policy Working Group (17 copies)CRM 92-80 / August 1992 Computing afqt ScoresFrom Historical DataPaul W. MayberryCatherine M. HiattOperations and Support Division*0 50) Years 19I 1992 CENTER FOR NAVAL ANALYSES4401 Ford Avenue * Post Cffie Box 16268 9 Akwmdra, Virginia 22302-0268 ABSTRACTThe Armed Forces Qualification Test( afqt ) serves as an initial screen formilitary selection.

6 afqt Scores must accu-rately reflect the quality of recruits whoenter the services and must maintain thesam6 meaning and interpretation over , several changes in the AFQTand other problems make such historicalcomputations and score interpretations dif-ficult. This research memorandum detailsthese past problems and presents solutionsthat will allow for the proper computationof current afqt Scores fro. SUMARYThe Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is theselection test administered to military applicants to determine theireligibility for service and to classify individuals into jobs they arelikely to perform successfully. The Armed Forces Qualification Test( afqt ) is a part of the ASVAB and is the initial screen for militaryselection. Applicants must exceed certain minimum afqt standards to beconsidered for enlistment. This test is also used as the primaryindicator of recruit quality, assisting military manpower managers inmonitoring the enlisted force and establishing recruiting goals forfuture accession selection and classification testing has an extensive his-tory dating back to World War I.

7 The afqt was initially developed andimplemented in 1950 as a joint-service selection instrument. During theearly 1970s, the services departed from using a common afqt . When a newtesting program for aLl military applicants began in 1976, all servicesagain began using a common time the afqt experienced many changes and problems: addition/deletion of ASVAB subtests, changes in the ASVAB score scale, changes insubtest score metrics used to compute the afqt , and changes in afqt sub- tests . These changes are detailed in table I. Despite efforts to main-tain the consistency of afqt Scores , such dramatic changes and problemshave negatively affected the Historical consistency of afqt Scores . Thescores recorded in Historical databases tend to be incompatible. There-fore, afqt Scores of record terd not to be directly comparable over time,should not be aggregated, and may result in inconsistent order to obtain an accurate afqt score that is comparable acrosstime and ASVAB forms, it is necessary to use a common set of subtests todefine the afqt and to compute all scorIs on the same score scale.

8 Thecurrent afqt definition (2VE + AR + MK) on the 1980 score scale is thecommon base to which all other afqt form - score scale combinations shouldbe only accurate means of obtaining afqt Scores equivalent to thecurrent definition and score scale is to work with subtest raw Scores (not standard Scores ) and recompute subtest standard Scores and the cor-rect afqt percentile score . One cannot adjust the afqt Scores of recordso that they reflect the current definition and score scale. Computerprograms and detailed instructions for Computing the afqt are presentedin this VE is the verbal composite, which consists of the sum of the WordKnowledge and Paragraph Comprehension subtests. AR and MK are theArithmetic Reasoning and Math Knowledge subtests, 10 04) to"4 0 4) 041 14 0>0 0 0 $4 $U 0 0 0 0 co40 0 0H~c .0C .( r-~~4 $ U (U ( 414 $ (Ut40 0 co 00 4 -I r4(to 0U $4 U i4) (U 0U 04) V32 Dc: ) ) 14U) 0) 0 04)H4+0 04 N4 ~ Ccc.

9 ,.I N " Hr. +4 V4 + + + 4) 4)(U 4 t WC41C) 4) % 4J Cd 4.)CA W U 0 0+ 4) V) 04) 14 + + + 4-' 00 >2 0H< H4 4)4) *~(44 ~ .0. C 4)(1) 0 4) 4) 4) 14A >H0 U4 W ) ul9z 04.) U1- 4 4U P 041) %0 0 0~0"H 0% 0% 0% 0% t4 4j-A CU CO -r4 14bO'~ 0 0 '~4) 0r44U202-4 f .4 10A Nl N- 1 %r4 V- rN Nt H 1 %0 0% N N- 1-0E-4 4c (A U) H- H-'-vi-CONTENTS* 1 Background .. 1 Content of ASVAB .. 2 Equating of ASVAB 2 ASVAB score Scale .. 5 Subtest and afqt score Metrics .. 6 Changes in afqt Definition and Computation .. 9 Solution .. 9 Computing Current afqt From Historical Subtest Raw Scores .. 10 ASVAB Forms 5/6 11 All Other ASVAB Forms .. 14 Appendix A: Conversion Tables Required for ComputingCurrent afqt from Historical Subtest Raw Scores ..A-1 -A-22 Appendix B: Computer Programs To Compute Current AFQTFrom Historical Subtest Raw B-1 -B-27 Appendix C: Documentation of CNA-Generated ConversionTables To Compute Current afqt from Historical SubtestRaw Scores .

10 C-1 -C-4-vii-TABLES"* Page1 Subtest Composition of ASVAB by Test form .. 32 Dates of Administration for Each ASVAB form .. 43 Definition of afqt Categories .. 74 Historical Changes in afqt Definition, score Scale, andSubtest Metric .. 85 Computing Current afqt from Historical SubtestRaw Scores .. 12-ix-INTRODUCTIONThe Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is theselection test administered to military applicants to determine theireligibility for service. Scores from the ASVAB are also used to clas-sify individuals into jobs they are likely to perform successfully. TheASVAB is administered each year to about 1 million people who apply forenlistment and to about another million students in high schools andpost-secondary institutions who are making career decisions and explor-!.ng vocational Armed Forces Qualification Test ( afqt ) is a part of the ASVABand is the initial screen for military selection.