Factor analysis of clerical aptitude tests.

This exploratory study of clerical aptitudes was undertaken for the principal purpose of discovering the structure of clerical aptitudes. The clerical field embraces a large group of occupations, and consequently the measurement of clerical aptitudes has received intense study. This is fortunate, since tests to help in the estimation of success hi these occupations are among the most necessary aids in employment work. Although there are many different kinds of clerical jobs, it seems plausible that most of these jobs are related in various ways. Other workers have attempted to describe these relationships in terms of basic or primary abilities (1, 2, 4, 6). However, it seems that much remains to be done in the way of describing the dynamic character of clerical aptitudes and in evaluating the tests that measure them. This present study, then, is concerned with the application of factor analysis techniques to clerical aptitude test data. A carefully planned analysis of representative clerical aptitude tests should be worthwhile both from the standpoint of test evaluation and of test construction.