The Weighted Airman Promotion System: Standardizing Test Scores

by Schiefer, Michael; Robbert, Albert A.; Crown, John S.; Manacapilli, Thomas; Wong, Carolyn

• ISBN13: 9780833042316
• ISBN10: 0833042319
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-11-25
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

Because test scores that are part of its enlisted promotion system are not standardized, the U.S. Air Force emphasizes longevity and test-taking ability differently and randomly across and within specialties. Random emphasis implies that the Air Force cannot be sure it promotes individuals with the highest potential. The authors discuss a range of predictable outcomes the Air Force could achieve by adopting various standardization strategies.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. iii
Figures	p. ix
Tables	p. xiii
Summary	p. xv
Acknowledgments	p. xix
Abbreviations	p. xxi
Introduction	p. 1
The Air Force Cannot Be Achieving Its Primary Enlisted Promotion Objective	p. 2
The Motivation for Enlisted Promotion Equity	p. 4
The Air Force Has Not Achieved All TOPCAP and Secondary Promotion Objectives	p. 7
Organization of the Monograph	p. 10
The Weighted Airman Promotion System: Motivation, Mechanics, Reality, and Theory	p. 13
A Fundamental Relationship	p. 17
Reality	p. 18
Theoretical Impacts of Differences in Variation	p. 24
Measuring Variation	p. 26
E5 WAPS Component Impacts	p. 26
E6 WAPS Component Impacts	p. 31
E7 WAPS Component Impacts	p. 33
E8 WAPS Component Impacts	p. 36
E9 WAPS Component Impacts	p. 37
Chapter Summary	p. 39
Standardizing Test Scores	p. 41
What Is Test Standardization?	p. 42
Why Standardize?	p. 42
Approaches to Standardizing PFE/SKT Scores	p. 43
Standardization Mechanics	p. 44
An Alternative Approach to Standardization	p. 46
Disclaimer	p. 47
Testing Impact and Selection Timing	p. 49
Selections to E2-E4	p. 49
Selections to E5	p. 50
A Univariate Perspective of Selections to E5	p. 52
A Multivariate Perspective of Selections to E5	p. 54
Selections to E6	p. 56
A Univariate Perspective of Selections to E6	p. 57
A Multivariate Perspective of Selections to E6	p. 58
Selections to E7	p. 60
A Univariate Perspective of Selections to E7	p. 61
A Multivariate Perspective of Selections to E7	p. 63
Selections to E8	p. 64
E8 Selection Factors	p. 65
Selections to E9	p. 67
Chapter Summary	p. 68
Effects	p. 71
Inconsistent and Random Selection Standards	p. 71
Senior NCO (E7-E9) Manning	p. 72
Unequal Opportunities to Make E8 and E9	p. 73
Disproportionate Selectivity for E9 Nominative and Commander-Involvement Positions	p. 74
Standardization Strategies	p. 76
Transition Issues	p. 79
Standardization Costs	p. 80
Conclusions and Recommendation	p. 83
Conclusions	p. 83
Recommendation	p. 83
Appendixes
The Impacts of WAPS Factors by Grade and AFSC	p. 87
AFSC Titles	p. 97
WAPS Changes over Time	p. 101
Periodic WAPS Revalidation	p. 105
Four Approaches to Measuring the Impacts of WAPS Factors	p. 107
Multivariate Models to Predict Selection Rates to E5	p. 113
Multivariate Models to Predict Selection Rates to E6	p. 125
Multivariate Models to Predict Selection Rates to E7	p. 131
ACT, SAT, and ASVAB Approaches to Standardization	p. 137
References	p. 143
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