VALIDATION OF AN INFORMATION-PROCESSING-BASED TEST BATTERY FOR THE PREDICTION OF HANDLING ACCIDENTS AMONG PETROLEUM-PRODUCT TRANSPORT DRIVERS

A validation study was conducted to determine if the selection of petroleum-product transport drivers could be improved. Based on anticipated problems with a postdictive field study, a laboratory simulation was conducted as a supplemental validation approach. For the laboratory study, an intensive job analysis was used to devise a computer-based simulation of the task. 60 Ss completed the simulation and a test battery that included measures of selective attention, field independence, and general cognitive ability. In the postdictive field study, 71 transport drivers completed measures of selective attention and field independence. Accident data was collected from company records. The only significant relationship was between driving accidents and selective attention. The results support the use of well-constructed simulations as an alternative validation strategy.