Assessing the Tailored Adaptive Personality Assessment System (TAPAS) as an MOS Qualification Instrument

Abstract : This report examines whether the Tailored Adaptive Personality Assessment System (TAPAS) may be useful for selecting and classifying recruits into Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) and describes the two broad approaches that were taken to evaluate the measure for these purposes. TAPAS data for this research were collected from Army applicants at the Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) between May 2009 and June 2011. In addition, criterion data were collected in the Tier One Performance Screen (TOPS) program. The total sample size for this research was 151,625. With this data, we first examined the validity of TAPAS scales for predicting outcomes in four high density MOS including 11B, 31B, 68W, and 88M. Next, we examined whether the TAPAS scales could be used to differentiate high performers in each MOS from those that would perform better in a different occupation. Using composites of the TAPAS scales, results indicated that some individuals might perform better in an MOS other than the one they were assigned to. Therefore, TAPAS may be useful as a supplement to the current procedures for MOS qualification and classification.

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