1. Assessing Attentional Skills and Interpersonal Style for Selection.
- Author
-
Peck, Curtiss S.
- Abstract
The relevance of assessing attention or concentration skills for personnel selection is discussed, and how a person's interpersonal characteristics are influenced by and influence attentional skills is explored. Scales in the Theory Attentional and Interpersonal Style (TAIS) inventory developed by Robert Nideffer are described. The interaction of dimensions of concentration results in four different attentional styles: (1) broad-external; (2) broad-internal; (3) narrow-internal; and (4) narrow-external. The two narrow styles have been combined in the TAIS to form a scale called "Focused" concentration. For each of the attentional scales, there is a related scale that indicates what is likely to cause attentional error. Eleven different interpersonal styles have been identified and are evaluated through the TAIS. Examples depict the use of the TAIS in a personnel promotion decision and in personnel selection. The TAIS is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring attentional and interpersonal skills and characteristics that can be useful in personnel decisions. (Contains three figures and two references.) (SLD)
- Published
- 1995