An easier "male" mechanical test for use with women

Abstract

"Examination of mechanical test data for male and female recruits suggested that a more valid test for use with enlisted women in the Navy might be constructed with items concerned with 'male' mechanical activities, but at a difficulty level appropriate for female recruits. By selecting on the basis of item characteristics, 52 items were chosen from the 100 in the Basic Test Battery Mechanical Test. Using as a criterion the scores from the Breech Block Performance Test (a measure of ability to learn mechanical-motor skills), the validity of the new 'easier' 52-item test was found to be .47 as compared with .39 for the original 100-item test." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)