Citation

Maschke P. Hum. Factors Aerosp. Safety 2004; 4(3): 225-232.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Ashgate Publishing)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Pilot selection is an important approach to enhance the reliability of human behaviour and therefore can be seen as a major contribution to flight safety. The methods of a good pilot selection programme should be objective and valid, and the whole selection has to be conducted in an economic procedure. These aspects are normally in the focus of the company, whereas the view of the applicant (often expressed as 'acceptance' or 'social validity') might be different. As the selection procedure mostly defines the first close contact between a future employee and the company, the acceptance of the system should be taken into consideration when developing a selection system. In an empirical study, ab initio pilot candidates answered questionnaires regarding their attitudes towards the selection procedure in general and regarding the specific methods. The results regarding the general aspects showed predominantly a high acceptance of the selection system. As a result of a factor analysis five aspects of social validity were identified: 1. General impression and fairness, 2. Transparency, 3. Self-evaluation, 4. Stress, and 5. Participation. The specific test ratings showed highest acceptance of tests concerning psychomotor-coordination and multiple task performance. Lower scores were observed for knowledge-related tests. These test specific results show similarities to results of criteria-oriented validity studies and job requirement studies of airline pilots: Tests which are both close to the real job requirements and proven to be valid, seem to be most acceptable from the candidates view also. This questions the assumption of social validity as an independent concept.