Assessment and application of psychomotor abilities using a new computerized (touch-panel) method

The current study investigated the validity of a new method developed for use as selection tests. This new method, called the touch-panel method, presents stimuli to participants via computer (touch-panel display) monitors; similar types of monitors are used in many stores as cash registers.; When compared to psychomotor selection tests used in the past, the touch-panel method offers several advantages: greater flexibility in creating new tests, lower costs to administer and maintain the tests, and higher predictive validity (Ackerman, 1996a). The validity of six touch-panel tests developed prior to the current study has been supported by prior research (Ackerman & Cianciolo, 1998).; The current study had task development and test validation objectives. The study was administered as Studies 1 and 2. Study 1 was primarily concerned with the development of two new touch-panel tests called the Maze Pursuit and Rotary Pursuit tests. The Pursuit tests were developed to represent several of the continuous movement behaviors common to several tracing tests (e.g., Melton, 1947). Study 2 was primarily concerned with the development of a criterion test called the Barcode-Scanning task. The criterion task was developed to represent several of the behaviors common to a number of jobs in today's service economy (e.g., retail checkout clerk jobs). The second objective was to validate the touch-panel test battery. In Studies 1 and 2 paper-and-pencil tests (to assess general cognitive and perceptual speed abilities) and apparatus tests (to assess psychomotor abilities) were administered to examine the construct and criterion-related validity of the touch-panel test battery.; Results from the current study offered preliminary support for the use of the touch-panel tests as selection tests. The primary emphasis of the current study was on examining the touch-panel tests' criterion-related validity. Paper-and-pencil and touch-panel tests were entered into a regression equation as sequential blocks to predict performance on the criterion task. When entered last, the touch-panel tests contributed a statistically significant amount (12%) of incremental variance in the prediction of Time and Errors. Limitations of the current study and suggestions for future research are also discussed.