The development and evaluation of a new method for the identification of ability requirements of jobs is described. The method developed is based on current knowledge about human abilities and utilizes flow diagrams as a decision aid. An analyst systematically proceeds through a series of binary decisions as to whether or not each of 40 abilities is required for performing a job or task. Three studies evaluated the reliability of the technique for different samples of analysts and types of job descriptions. A comparison was made with an alternate approach using rating scales to assess abilities in the same tasks and jobs. The decision flow diagrams proved to be reliable and superior to the rating scale approach for identifying abilities. The diagrams seem best employed in conjunction with the rating scales, the former to identify required abilities and the latter to quantify the degree of involvement of each of the identified abilities. The diagrams and rating scales appear to provide a feasible technique to help establish personnel requirements for jobs.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Brumback, G. B., Romashko, T., Hahn, C. P., and Fleishman, E. A.Models for job analysis, test development and validation procedures. Washington, D.C.: American Institutes for Research, Final Report, 1974.
2.
Fleishman, E. A.Structure of measurement of physical fitness. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1964.
3.
Fleishman, E. A.Development of a behavior taxonomy for describing human tasks: A correlational-experimental approach. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1967, 51, 1–10. (a)
4.
Fleishman, E. A.Performance assessment based on an empirically derived task taxonomy. Human Factors, 1967, 9, 349–366. (b)
5.
Fleishman, E. A.Structure and measurement of psychomotor abilities. In R. N. Singer (Ed.) The psychomotor domain: Movement behavior.Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1972.
6.
Fleishman, E. A.Toward a taxonomy of human performance. American Psychologist, 1975, 30, 1127–1149. (a)
7.
Fleishman, E. A.Taxonomic issues in human performance research. In W. T. Singleton and P. Spurgeon (Eds.) Measurement of human resources.New York: Halstead Press, 1975. (b)
8.
Fleishman, E. A.Development of ability requirement scales for the analysis of Bell Systems jobs. Bethesda, Maryland: Management Research Institute, 1975. (c)
9.
Fleishman, E. A.Development of ability requirement scales for the analysis of yellow page sales jobs in the Bell System. Bethesda, Maryland: Management Research Institute, 1976.
10.
Fleishman, E. A. and Hogan, J. C.A taxonomic method for assessing the physical requirements of jobs: The physical abilities analysis approach. Washington, D.C.: Advanced Research Resources Organization, 1978.
11.
Fleishman, E. A. and Stephenson, R. W.Development of a taxonomy of human performance: A review of the third year's progress. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 1972, 2, 40–41.
12.
French, J. W., Eckstrom, R. B., and Price, L. A.Manual for kit of reference tests for cognitive factors. Princeton, New Jersey: Educational Testing Service, June, 1963.
13.
Guilford, J. P.The nature of human intelligence. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1967.
14.
Hogan, J. C., Ogden, G. D., and Fleishman, E. A.Assessing physical requirements for establishing medical standards in selected benchmark jobs. Washington, D.C.: Advanced Research Resources Organization, 1978.
15.
Jones, M. A. and Prien, E. P. A valid procedure for testing the physical abilities of job applicants. Submitted to the American Society for Personnel Administration, 1978.
16.
Levine, J. M., Romashko, T., and Fleishman, E. A.Evaluation of an abilities classification system for integrating and generalizing human performance research findings: An application to vigilance tasks. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1973, 58, 149–157.
17.
Romashko, T., Brumback, G. B., Fleishman, E. A., and Hahn, C. P.The development of a procedure to validate physical tests: Physical requirements of the sanitation man's job. Washington, D.C.: American Institutes for Research, Technical Report 1, 1973.
18.
Romashko, T., Brumback, G. B., Fleishman, E. A., and Hahn, C. P.The development of a procedure to validate physical tests: Physical requirements of the parking enforcement agent's job. Washington, D.C.: American Institutes for Research, Technical Report 2, 1974. (a)
19.
Romashko, T., Brumback, G. B., Fleishman, E. A., and Hahn, C. P.The development of a procedure to validate physical tests: Physical requirements of the fireman's job. Washington, D.C.: American Institutes for Research, Technical Report 3, 1974. (b)
20.
Rose, A. M., Fingerman, P. W., Wheaton, G. R., Eisner, E., and Kramer, G.Methods for predicting job ability requirements: II. Ability requirements as a function of changes in the characteristics of an electronic faultfinding task. Washington, D.C.: American Institutes for Research, 1974.
21.
Theologus, G. C. and Fleishman, E. A.Development of a taxonomy of human performance: Validation study of ability scales for classifying human tasks. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, Ms. No. 326, 1973, 3, 29.
22.
Theologus, G. C., Romashko, T., and Fleishman, E. ADevelopment of a taxonomy of human performance: A feasibility study of ability dimensions for classifying human tasks. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, Ms. No. 321, 1973, 3, 25–26.
23.
Wheaton, G. R., Eisner, E., Mirabella, A., and Fleishman, E. A.Ability requirements as a function of changes in the characteristics of an auditory signal identification task. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1976, 61, 663–676.
24.
Winer, B. J.Statistical principles in experimental design. New York: McGraw-Hili, 1962.
25.
Zedeck, S.Validation of physical abilities tests for AT&T craft positions. Basking Ridge, New Jersey: American Telephone and Telegraph Company, 1976.
