Date of Award

9-1992

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Wayne G. Stone, PhD

Second Advisor

Guy S. Shane, PhD

Abstract

This study examined differences based on computer and paper modes of administration in psychological testing. The hypotheses tested were the expectations that scores on the computer Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT) would be higher than the paper version and subjects would report higher levels on the computer Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI) scales. A counterbalance experimental design with two experimental groups was used. The subjects were volunteers from the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) and Wright State University (WSU); 90 subjects completed the study. This included 75 students from AFIT and 15 from WSU; 69 subjects were male and 21 were female. Subjects were randomly assigned to two experimental groups. The administration mode of the tests was the independent variable for the study. It was concluded that there was no significant difference between the modes of administration for either the WPT or the VPI. There was a significant order effect with the WPT. Subjects scored significantly higher on the WPT retest. There were also significant differences in four VPI response variables between experimental groups. Subjects preferred the computer administration over the paper administration 54% to 17%. 50% reported the computer versions 'easier to complete', while 13% reported the paper versions 'easier to complete.'

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GLM-LSR-92S-22

DTIC Accession Number

ADA259450

Comments

The authors' Vita pages are omitted.

Presented to the Faculty of the School of Systems and Logistics

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