A personality inventory was given to 509 USAF pilot candidates. The items were combined into five measures, two of which differentiated training successes from failures; graduates demonstrated higher self-confidence and less dogmatism. As an alternative approach to examining simple relationships between personality characteristics and training outcomes, personality profiles were examined as predictors of performance criteria. The value of this apporach was demonstrated by better discrimination of training graduates from non-graduates. The implication of these results are discussed, as are plans for other research projects designed to replicate and extend the findings from the current study.
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