THE USE OF IQ ASSESSMENT IN ASTRONAUT SCREENING AND EVALUATION

Background: The screening and evaluation of astronaut candidates usual ly includes measures of cognitive and intellectual capacity. Questions of ceiling effects and discriminability when evaluating individuals a ssumed to be of above average intelligence should be considered. The c urrent study examines ceiling effects and discriminability on IQ asses sment between pilots vs. mission specialists and men vs. women in the selection of astronaut candidates. Methods: IQ scores on 104 male and female Shuttle astronaut candidates as measured by the Multidimensiona l Aptitude Battery (MAB) were analyzed via factor analyses and tests o f differences between genders, selection status, and job types. Total group, gender, and job type specificity and sensitivity and overall pe rcent correctly classified were assessed on selected vs. unselected cl assification. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses fa iled to replicate the proposed factor configuration prompting reconfig ured domain scores. Analyses of differences between gender, selection, and job categories found different results when using reconfigured IQ scores compared to the original formulation. The 10 subscales perform ed better than overall domain scores in sensitivity, specificity, and as significant predictors of individuals selected. Both versions of Ve rbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQ scores performed similarly regard ing sensitivity and specificity. The reconfigured scores were better p redictors of selection. Discussion: Evidence for sensitivity, specific ity, and classification prediction was better for subscales than overa ll domain scores. Some consideration to using reconfigured domain scor es should be given to increase instrument utility.