Prediction in auto trade courses

Abstract

The validities of two similar mechanical aptitude batteries with that of a combination of four selected single tests were compared. The batteries were: (1) The SRA Mechanical Aptitudes, and (2) The California Prognostic Test of Mechanical Abilities. The individual tests were: (1) The Bennett Test of Mechanical Comprehension, Form AA; (2) The Revised Minnesota Form Board; (3) The Purdue Industrial Training Classification Test; and (4) The O'Rourke Survey Test of Vocabulary, Form X4. 85 students in an Auto Body Repair course, and 105 in an Auto Mechanics Repair course were subjects. The criterion was combined rankings by instructors. For both groups, the highest correlation was given by the Bennett test. The combination of single tests gave the higher multiple correlation coefficients, for both groups, the California battery was second most predictive, and the SRA battery was third. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)