Reading Abilities Tests: Development and Norming for Air Force Use

Abstract : This report describes the development and norming of parallel forms of the Air Force Reading Abilities Test (AFRAT) which have been designed for Air Force use as replacements for commercial reading tests. (Author) Many Air Force organizations have been administering various commercially published reading tests to military personnel. These tests hve been used for assignment to remedial training programs, as aids in counseling students, or for description of reading levels of airmen in various occupational specialties. A previous study on service applicants found considerably divergent reading grade levels (RGLs) from different commercial tests for subjects of the same Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery ability level. In addition to varying norms, the use of commercial tests has several other drawbacks, including light testing material costs and RGL norms of unknown appropriateness for military personnel. The goal of this effort was to develop reading tests with appropriate norms. Samples of airmen were experimentally administered several reading tests, including one or two forms of the AFRAT. After data editing, analyses were done to determine the equivalence of the AFRAT forms, their relationships to other tests, AFRAT raw score to RGL equivalents, and training grade validity of AFRAT item types. The two parallel forms of the AFRAT appear to meet administrative and psychometric specifications. AFRAT appears to be a highly reliable instrument and is recommended as a replacement for commercial reading tests.