Incorporation of a Test of Selective Attention in a Pilot Selection Battery

Abstract

Incorporation of a dichotic listening test of focused attention in the pilot selection battery of the Israel Air Force was studied using a group of 2000 flight cadets. In this test, subjects are presented with 48 dichotic messages, composed of strings of words and digit names. Subjects are required to detect digit names in one ear, ignore information in the other, and reconsider ear relevance upon indication. Three types of selective listening errors are recorded: omissions, intrusions and switching errors. Flight cadets who completed a two year training program had significantly lower error scores on all attention measures. In addition, these measurs had low correlations with all other tests of the pilot selection battery. Attention capabilities appear to an independent new dimension that improves the predictive validity of the present battery.

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