Prediction of performance by non-cognitive traits

Project A clearly demonstrated that performance is multidimensional and that some aspects are better predicted by noncognitive measures. Substantial research and development in the ensuing years has focused on personality and vocational interests. The articles in this special issue convincingly demonstrate that at least one personality measure developed by military researchers, the Tailored Adaptive Personality Assessment System (TAPAS), is resistant to faking, which was an important concern about earlier single statement instruments. Moreover, several articles report showing that TAPAS predicts retention and important aspects of “will do” performance. On the other hand, these papers show that TAPAS adds little or no incremental validity to “can do” aspects of performance over and above the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Three measures of vocational interest are described in articles in this special issue and research has been positive about their ability to predict attrition, rates of promotion and reenlistment, and job satisfaction. A number of topics for further research are noted.