Konzentrations-Leistungs Test

Konzentrations-Leistungs Test

Article Information
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Description

The Konzentrations-Leistung test is a test of the ability to carry out mental operations involving mental arithmetic, retaining one result and comparing with a second.

Discussion/References

References to the use of the method in ATC or similar situations.

  • BFS (the German ATC service) used this test in its full form as part of its selection procedure.
  • EEC Report 183 (1986) found no deterioration in performance on this test before/after ATCV exercises of varying difficulty.
  • This test is a proprietary test, used in selection and clinical testing. It is available only to registered psychologists.

This test is copyright by:

Verlag fuer Psychologie
Dr. C.J. Hogrefe
Marburg
Germany.

Norms for ATC Staff are available from:

DFVLR
Instituet fuer Flugmedizin
Abt. Luftfahrtpsychologie
Weg beim Jaeger 10 3
D 2000 Hamburg 63.

Categories
Human Factors Methods
Generics
Type of method Mental Capacity Test
Target of method Strain
This test is applied before and after an exercise, with the intention of measuring a possible decrease in mental efficiency during the exercise.
Time Scale of method Hours
This is a before-and-after test, which is applied at the start and end of an exercise. It can therefore provide no greater precision than over the entire exercise.
Portability of method Yes
‘Paper and pencil’ (or laptop) test. Easily portable.
Observer Effect No
No observer effects to be expected.
Context of studies
Laboratory studies Avoid
 
Simulation studies Avoid
 
Field studies Avoid
 
Potential problems with the method
Failure risk High
This test aims at identifying the ability to concentrate, rather than intelligence or visual capacity. Unfortunately, the inevitable time lag between the end of the Real Time simulation and testing appears to allow time for the controller to recover from any work-related effects.
Bias risk Low
In principle, this test ought to be unbiased.
Ethical problems Medical
This test is not generally available, since it is a copyrighted test sometimes used in psychiatry. It cannot therefore be used without proper authority, and must be supervised by a registered psychological practitioner.
Costs of the method
Staff Cost Low
The test forms must be distributed and collected at the start and end of each run. Either a technician or, better, the project leader or assistant project leader can do this.
Set-up Cost Low
Tests can be generated by a cheap. Public domain generator, which also prepares scoring sheets.
Running Cost Low
Forms/Computer storage.
Analysis Cost Low
The cost of analysis is mainly the time and speed of transcription of the controllers’ responses.
Analysis data
Analysis Speed Moderate
Although each test can be scored using the prepared

score-sheet, the results must usually be transcribed manually.
Data Automation Yes
A computer-based version of the test, with individually presented and scored questions could be developed if warranted.
Analysis Automation Yes
Most data analysis is more or less automatised in the current circumstances. No specific human interpretation problems expected.
Status Rejected

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