The usefulness of personality questionnaires in officer selection and training : a paper submitted in fulfilment of the Master of Science degree

Abstract

The aim of the current research was to assess whether the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ-R) and the Gordon Personal Profile-Inventory (GPP-I) could predict future behaviour in a sample of NZ Army officers and officer cadets. Personality questionnaire data completed at the time of selection was correlated with a workplace behaviour questionnaire (WBQ) developed specifically for the purposes of the research. It was hypothesised that (1) EPQ-R and GPP-I scales should correlate significantly with their corresponding scales on the WBQ, (2) the Neuroticism/Lie and Psychoticism/Lie correlation should indicate the presence of faking, (3) officers serving longer than three years should show more similar personality profiles than officers serving less than three years, (4) immediate superiors of the same gender and ethnicity should rate participants more favourably than those of a different gender and ethnicity, and (5) scores on the WBQ measuring High Psychoticism, High Neuroticism, Low Emotional Stability, Low Ascendancy, and Low Cautiousness should not be endorsed highly if selection has been effective. Only the fifth hypothesis was supported and the results are discussed in light of methodological shortcomings and earlier research.