Use of a logically related predictor in determining intragroup differential predictability

Abstract

The overall validity of a career-intention question for predicting Navy reenlistment was reanalyzed for subgroups selected by another logically related test serving as a measure of predictability. On the assumption that career-intention responses of better informed recruits would be relatively more valid, 21 samples, comprising 13,448 enlisted men, were each trichotomized into High, Middle, and Low subgroups on Naval Knowledge Test (NKT) scores. The validity of the career question for the High group was equal to, or larger than the validity for the total group in 19 of the 21 samples. The results generally confirmed that test validity for total groups may be improved for subgroups identified as more predictable by another relevant measure. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)