Cognitive Predictors of Tank Commander Performance

Abstract
The purpose of the investigation was to determine which students were most likely to be successful tank commanders (TCs). The following tests were administered: five paper-and-pencil tests; two commercial video games and; a microcomputer based video task called Tank Commander, developed to assess performance on job samples identified as being frequently failed by TCs in field exercises. Two groups were tested. Forty young officer students were administered the Tank Commander test, only. Significant canonical correlations were found between class standing and performance on the Tank Commander test, however, the results were in the unexpected direction, in that students who did well on the Tank Commander test were ranked low in the class. Thirty enlisted TC students (three classes) were administered all eight of the tests. Criterion measures were supervisory and peer ratings. Significant correlations were obtained between performance on Tank Commander and the criteria, however, the results were equivocal: two of the classes performed in the expected direction (good scores on the test received high criterion ratings) while the other class performed in the opposite direction. Two of the paper-and-pencil tests combined (Paper Folding and Map Planning) yielded R=.6 with the criterion.

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