TAPAS Introduction to TAPAS 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What type of test format does TAPAS use to reduce faking?
- True/false statements
- Likert scale ratings from 1-5
- Forced-choice pairs matched on social desirability (Correct answer)
- Open-ended written responses
Correct answer: Forced-choice pairs matched on social desirability
TAPAS uses forced-choice pairs where both options are equally socially desirable, making it difficult for test-takers to identify which response will produce a more favorable personality score.
The forced-choice format is central to TAPAS design. Each item presents two personality-descriptive statements carefully matched for social desirability. Because both options seem equally positive or equally neutral, test-takers cannot easily determine which choice will score higher on a particular personality dimension. This significantly reduces the effectiveness of faking compared to traditional Likert-scale personality inventories.
Question 2: How many primary personality dimensions does the standard TAPAS measure?
- 5, matching the Big Five model exactly
- 10 dimensions
- 13 to 15 dimensions depending on the version (Correct answer)
- 25 dimensions
Correct answer: 13 to 15 dimensions depending on the version
Standard TAPAS versions measure between 13 and 15 personality dimensions, which are narrower facets derived from broader personality models like the Big Five.
TAPAS measures narrow personality facets rather than just the broad Big Five factors. The standard military version includes dimensions such as Achievement, Dominance, Even-Temperedness, Intellectual Efficiency, Cooperation, Physical Conditioning, Self-Control, Attention Seeking, Non-Delinquency, Optimism, Order, Sociability, and Tolerance. Some versions add Adjustment and Selflessness bringing the total to 15.
Question 3: What does the Tailored Adaptive part of TAPAS refer to?
- The test adapts its content based on the job being applied for
- Items are selected by a computerized adaptive testing algorithm based on the test-taker's previous responses (Correct answer)
- The test adapts to different languages automatically
- Recruiters can choose which questions to ask
Correct answer: Items are selected by a computerized adaptive testing algorithm based on the test-taker's previous responses
TAPAS uses computerized adaptive testing where the algorithm selects the most informative items for each individual based on their prior responses, tailoring the test to each person.
Computerized Adaptive Testing is a key feature of TAPAS. Rather than presenting every test-taker with the same fixed set of items, the algorithm maintains a running estimate of each person's standing on each personality dimension. After each response it selects the next item pair that will provide the most information to refine those estimates, yielding reliable personality scores with fewer items.
Question 4: Which organization funded the original development of TAPAS?
- The American Psychological Association
- The U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (Correct answer)
- The Department of Education
- Private testing companies
Correct answer: The U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences
The U.S. Army Research Institute funded TAPAS development to improve military personnel selection beyond cognitive testing alone.
The U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences recognized that cognitive ability testing via ASVAB alone was insufficient for predicting important military outcomes like attrition, discipline, and leadership. ARI contracted with researchers to create TAPAS as a scientifically rigorous personality assessment suitable for high-stakes military selection contexts.
Question 5: What is the approximate administration time for a typical TAPAS session?
- 5 minutes
- 15-25 minutes (Correct answer)
- 60-90 minutes
- 3 hours
Correct answer: 15-25 minutes
TAPAS typically takes 15-25 minutes to complete, thanks to the efficiency of computerized adaptive testing which tailors item selection to each test-taker.
The computerized adaptive nature of TAPAS allows it to achieve reliable personality measurement in a relatively short time. A typical administration involves approximately 100-120 forced-choice item pairs which most test-takers complete in 15-25 minutes. This efficiency is important in the MEPS setting where recruits must complete multiple assessments.
Question 6: Why was a personality test specifically needed in addition to the ASVAB for military selection?
- The ASVAB was being discontinued
- Research showed that non-cognitive traits like motivation and dependability predicted important military outcomes that cognitive tests missed (Correct answer)
- Federal law required personality testing
- It was cheaper than the ASVAB
Correct answer: Research showed that non-cognitive traits like motivation and dependability predicted important military outcomes that cognitive tests missed
Research demonstrated that personality factors such as conscientiousness, emotional stability, and cooperativeness predicted military outcomes like attrition and disciplinary problems that ASVAB cognitive scores could not.
By the early 2000s, decades of research had established that personality traits, particularly conscientiousness and emotional stability, predicted important workplace outcomes beyond what cognitive ability tests could forecast. In the military context, first-term attrition was a costly problem that ASVAB scores poorly predicted. TAPAS was developed to systematically capture these non-cognitive factors.
TAPAS Introduction to TAPAS 2
What type of test format does TAPAS use to reduce faking?