The significance of verbal aptitude in the type of occupation pursued by illiterates

Abstract

The discharged veteran who was classified as illiterate upon induction presents a need for expert guidance if he wishes to continue his education. Group test scores do not always appear valid as a criterion of aptitude; thus the Personnel Consultant's Section in a special training center administered the Wechsler Mental Ability Scale, Form B, as a criterion of verbal aptitude. English-speaking trainees were given only four subtests: Information, Arithmetic, Comprehension, and Similarities. For the whole group at this center (2,476), Wechsler average standard scores were computed for skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled persons. Skilled and semi-skilled group means were significantly higher than that for the unskilled. The shortened form appeared to discriminate satisfactorily among learning capacities of trainees. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)