In South Africa, legislation dictates that employees must be developed resulting in the need to identify candidate's development capability. As such, it is essential to be able to measure the learning potential of candidates. In practice, cognitive ability has been linked to the complex process of job performance. This study aimed to determine whether learning potential can be used as a predictor of job performance. The Learning Potential Computerised Adaptive Test (LPCAT) was utilised to measure learning potential and job performance was measured through a promotion ratio (taking job knowledge and tenure into account). The moderator variables were investigated. A sample of 135 technical employees was drawn. The data was statistical manipulated reporting various significant relationships confirming the internal reliability of the LPCAT and indicating a strong significant relationship between learning potential and job performance. Variables such as learning potential, job grade and tenure are significant when predicting job performance. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / MA (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology )

The researcher selected a quantitative cross-sectional design to test the concurrent validity of learning potential and psychomotor ability by evaluating the relationships between mining machine operators’ learning potential and psychomotor ability as well as their work safety behaviour. Work safety behaviour was considered indicative of their capability to operate a moving machine. The utilization of measuring instruments capable of measuring their learning potential and psychomotor ability and measuring safety behaviour by means of their safety score cards provided the required measurement data. The study involved a quantitative investigation into the relationship between learning potential and psychomotor ability as independent variables and safety behaviour as dependent variable. De Vos, Strydom, Fouche and Delport (2002, p.79) defined quantitative research as “based on positivism, which takes scientific explanation to be nomothetic. Its main aims are to measure the social world objectively, to test hypotheses and to predict and explain human behaviour. A quantitative study may therefore be defined as an inquiry into social or human problems based on testing a theory composed of variables, measured with numbers and analysed with statistical procedures in order to determine whether the predictive generalization of the theory holds true.” The aim of the study was to determine the learning potential and psychomotor ability of mining machine operators as well as compare the following sub-groups (based on the biographical variables): age, years’ experience, educational level and gender. The respondents’ work safety behaviour was measured and the relationship between the two measures of the independent variables (learning potential and psychomotor ability) and work safety behaviour determined. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / (M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology))

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Wanneer psigometriese toetsing op groepe uit verskillende sosio-ekonomiese agtergronde toegepas word, presteer individue uit agtergeblewe omgewings swakker as bulle ewekniee uit meer ontwikkelde omgewings. Hierdie individue se toegang tot hoofstroom loopbaangeleenthede word dikwels bemoeilik as gevolg van die beperking. Die leerpotensiaal benadering word aangebied as belowende alternatief om die probleem, wat 'n sosio-ekonomiese oorsprong het, te oorbrug. Die resultate van die studie bewys die stelling gedeeltelik waar, maar met buitengewone inspanning. In die finale ontleding van die resultate is dit duidelik dat die verbeterde voorspelling eerder toegeskryf kan word aan die optimale vlak van ontwikkeling wat die individu bereik net voor die toetsing, en nie soseer sy/haar leerpotensiaal nie. / Applying psychometric tests to groups from different socio-economical backgrounds, inevitably result in the individuals from deprived backgrounds performing noteably poorer than their counterparts from more developed backgrounds. These individuals also find enterance to the mainstream careers difficult because of this restriction. The learning potential approach to assessment is presented as a promising alternative to overcome the problem that is related to the socio-economic background of the individual. The results of this study partly confirm the value of the learning potential approach, but only with extra-ordinary effort. In the final analysis of the results it is clear that the improved predictive accuracy was rather due to the optimal level of development the individuals reached just before the testing, and not so much their learning potential. / Psychology / M. Sc. (Sielkunde)

The changing nature of work and its competitive characteristics are global phenomena and are mainly fuelled by ongoing technological advancement. This creates unique challenges for talent attraction and the retention of high performing individuals. In addition, the global workforce is becoming more diverse due to demographic, societal and cultural changes and companies are placing greater demands on employee competency and performance. Managing the human factor as a strategic asset in organisations remains a primary challenge in securing a competitive advantage. The road construction industry in South Africa is no different. There is growing competition between civil engineering contractors to secure tenders and to maximise profitability. This is only possible with a sufficient and sustainable labour force. Valid selection processes are therefore required to ensure that the most productive individuals are selected for the most suitable jobs. Reliable and valid performance predictors will assist employers in making appropriate selection decisions. Selecting high performing individuals will support and enhance overall organisational performance. ix In this study the investigation focused on whether psychomotor ability and learning potential are statistically significant predictors of work performance - with specific reference to drivers and machine operators in a road construction company. A quantitative approach was followed to investigate the relationships between variables, or then the prediction of one dependent variable (driver and machine operator performance) by means of two independent variables (psychomotor ability and learning potential). Results from the study did not indicate any statistically significant relationships between the variables. Only scientifically validated assessment instruments were used in the study - which means the findings led to a renewed focus on the importance of performance measurement and the psychometric quality (reliability and validity) of performance data. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Psychometric testing is becoming more influential in the recruitment and development of individuals within the corporate environment globally, with over 80% of Fortune 500 companies in the USA and over 75% of the Times Top 100 companies in the UK using psychometric testing, the same trend is emerging in South Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between an individual’s preferred behavioural approach on various behavioural dimensions and the manner in which they complete a psychometric measure, more specifically, a learning potential measure within the corporate environment, as an individual’s preferred behavioural approach may act as a biasing factor with regard to the result that they obtain. A causal research design was utilised and two psychometric measures used to respectively determine an individual’s preferred behavioural style and learning potential. The sample consisted of 398 economically active adult candidates in either a development or recruitment assessment centre. Both the Personal Profile Analysis (PPA) and Test for Selection and Training (TST) were administered on these 398 individuals. Statistical analysis was carried out on the test results with the use of SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The reliability and validity of the measuring instruments was also ascertained and found acceptable. Descriptive statistics, contingency tables, significant differences, t-test statistics and p-values were used to analyse the data. These statistical methods were used to indicate if a relationship exists. The results indicate that various behavioural dimensions, (Dominance, Influence and Steadiness) amongst individuals within the South African Corporate environment do have an impact on how they complete a learning potential measure, when consideration is given to the speed and accuracy with which they complete such a measure. Recommendations for the organisation and future research were made. / Psychology / M.A. (Research Psychology)

In South Africa, legislation dictates that employees must be developed resulting in the need to identify candidate's development capability. As such, it is essential to be able to measure the learning potential of candidates. In practice, cognitive ability has been linked to the complex process of job performance. This study aimed to determine whether learning potential can be used as a predictor of job performance. The Learning Potential Computerised Adaptive Test (LPCAT) was utilised to measure learning potential and job performance was measured through a promotion ratio (taking job knowledge and tenure into account). The moderator variables were investigated. A sample of 135 technical employees was drawn. The data was statistical manipulated reporting various significant relationships confirming the internal reliability of the LPCAT and indicating a strong significant relationship between learning potential and job performance. Variables such as learning potential, job grade and tenure are significant when predicting job performance. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / MA (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The purpose of the present study was to determine the concurrent validity of learning potential and psychomotor ability measures for the prediction of haul truck operator (N=128) performance in an open-pit mine. Specific aims were to determine the nature of the relationship between learning potential and psychomotor ability; whether there are higher order cognitive or psychomotor factors present in the combined use of the TRAM 1 and Vienna Test System measures; and the relative contribution of learning potential and psychomotor ability in the prediction of haul truck operator performance. The validity of learning potential and psychomotor ability measures was partially supported. A positive correlation between general (cognitive) ability (g) and psychomotor ability was reported. Factor analysis provided relatively consistent evidence for a general (cognitive) ability factor (g) underlying performance on all measures. The relative contribution of learning potential and psychomotor ability in the prediction of performance could not be established. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology )

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Wanneer psigometriese toetsing op groepe uit verskillende sosio-ekonomiese agtergronde toegepas word, presteer individue uit agtergeblewe omgewings swakker as bulle ewekniee uit meer ontwikkelde omgewings. Hierdie individue se toegang tot hoofstroom loopbaangeleenthede word dikwels bemoeilik as gevolg van die beperking. Die leerpotensiaal benadering word aangebied as belowende alternatief om die probleem, wat 'n sosio-ekonomiese oorsprong het, te oorbrug. Die resultate van die studie bewys die stelling gedeeltelik waar, maar met buitengewone inspanning. In die finale ontleding van die resultate is dit duidelik dat die verbeterde voorspelling eerder toegeskryf kan word aan die optimale vlak van ontwikkeling wat die individu bereik net voor die toetsing, en nie soseer sy/haar leerpotensiaal nie. / Applying psychometric tests to groups from different socio-economical backgrounds, inevitably result in the individuals from deprived backgrounds performing noteably poorer than their counterparts from more developed backgrounds. These individuals also find enterance to the mainstream careers difficult because of this restriction. The learning potential approach to assessment is presented as a promising alternative to overcome the problem that is related to the socio-economic background of the individual. The results of this study partly confirm the value of the learning potential approach, but only with extra-ordinary effort. In the final analysis of the results it is clear that the improved predictive accuracy was rather due to the optimal level of development the individuals reached just before the testing, and not so much their learning potential. / Psychology / M. Sc. (Sielkunde)