OLUKORRAPÕHISED OTSUSTUSTESTID RÜHMATASEME SÕJAVÄELISTE JUHTIDE OTSUSTUSVÕIME MÕÕTMISEKS LAHINGUJUHTIMIST MATKIVATES OLUKORDADES

Situational Judgment Tests for Assessing Platoon Level Military Commanders’ Decision-Making Skills in Simulated Battle Situations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the differences in decision-making skills between experienced (cadets of the Estonian National Defence College (ENDC)) and novice (conscripts) test-takers by constructing a simulated Situational Judgment Test (SJT) for platoon level battle commanders, and to find out whether the testing format influenced the performance outcomes. To this end, four tests were conducted in two formats: paper-and-pencil tests for one group, and a video test for another group. The sample consisted of ENDC cadets (134) and Reserve Platoon Leader Course (RPLC) conscripts (80). Half of the participants were given the paper-and-pencil version, and the other half completed the video simulation version of the test. The results showed that SJTs are reliable instruments for measuring the decision-making of platoon level battle leaders, indicating a significant difference between the more experienced ENDC cadets and less experienced RPLC conscripts. No differences in results were found between the formats of the tests. The authors of the study recommend using SJTs in the Estonian Defence Forces for personnel selection and in training programmes.