Flanagan Industrial Tests

John C. Flanagan, Ph.D.

Overview of the Test:

The Flanagan Industrial Tests (FIT) are eighteen short tests designed specifically for use with
adults in personnel selection programs for a wide variety of jobs. The tests are short, self-
administering, and require from five to fifteen minutes working time. Like the FACT series, they
are based on the identified job elements; each test represents a distinct function. Each test is
printed as a separate booklet, permitting maximum flexibility and efficiency in testing. The
personnel administrator can select the set of specific job elements required in each position and
use the best combination of tests in selecting personnel for each job.

Purpose:
Several short test used in appropriate combination will nearly always provide a better prediction
of performance in a given job than a single, longer test of general ability. Also, a testing program
that uses separate measures of specific job elements can be modified easily to reflect changes in
job requirements. Such flexibility is becoming essential because jobs are changing rapidly.

Application:
The FIT tests are essentially self-administering. Directions and sample exercises are ordinarily
given on the back page. Examinees should all be provided with medium (No. 2) black led pencils
with eraser.
It is of prime importance that the examiner allows the participants to work precisely the time
indicated on each test. This means that no test booklet should be opened until instruction is given
to do so and that everyone stops work and closes the test booklet when told to stop.

Dimensions being measured

Arithmetic Work quickly and accurately with numbers.

Assembly Skill related to visualizing the results of structural and mechanical changes.

Components Ability to locate and identify important parts of a whole.

Coordination Ability to coordinate hand and arm movements smoothly and accurately.
Ability to understand electrical and electronic principles and to analyze
Electronics
diagrams of electrical circuits.
Expression Ability to convey ideas in writing and talking.

Ingenuity Ability to devise ingenious procedures.

Inspection Ability to spot flaw.

Judgment and Ability to read with understanding, to reason logically, and to use good
Comprehension judgment in interpreting materials.
Mathematics and Ability to understand basic mathematical concepts and to translate ideas and
Reasoning operations into brief mathematical notations.
Ability to understand mechanical principles and to analyze mechanical
Mechanics
movements
Memory Ability to learn and to recall a term associated with an unfamiliar one.
Ability to perceive and reproduce simple pattern outlines precisely and
Patterns
accurately.
Planning Ability to plan, organize, and schedule.

Precision Ability to do work with small objects

Scales Ability to read scales, graph, and accurately.

Tables Ability to read tables quickly and accurately.

Vocabulary Ability to choose the right word to convey an idea.

Psychometric Properties:

A. Validity
In most instances a combination of test scores yields a better predictive validity than a
single score. Instead of reporting the validities for the specific sample that could be
obtained by applying the precise weights to maximize the relationship, validities are
reported for combinations of equally weighted variables.
B. Reliability
The FIT and Fact correlated highly, the tests may be regarded as essentially equivalent.
C. Norms
Each company needs to determine its own standards for personnel selection. It is
frequently helpful in evaluating test result, however, to be able to compare an applicant’s
performance with that of a specially defined group.

Reference:
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Submitted by:
Bowie Bello