Van Heerden, AdelaiDe Beer, Morris2018-05-142018-05-142015-09Van Heerden, A. and De Beer, M. 2015. Learning potential, career interest and coping profile of a group of SOF candidates. 57th International Military Testing Association Conference, Stockholm Sweden, 21 - 25 Sept 2015http://www.imta.info/PastConferences/Presentations.aspx?Show=2015http://hdl.handle.net/10204/10202The attached pdf contains an abstract of the fulltext paper. For access to the fulltext paper, kindly contact the organisers: http://www.imta.info/Forms/userEMail.aspxThe aim of this mixed method study was to obtain a general profile of candidates (N=251) applying to join the Operational Forces of the South African National Defence Force in terms of their coping (hardiness, sense of coherence, locus of control and self-efficacy), learning potential and career related interests and to explore their reasons for wanting to become and their perceptions of what it takes to achieve success as an Operational Forces soldier. Furthermore, those that were successful in the selection (N=26) were compared on the various measures to those that were not successful (N=225). The results indicate that the applicant group show high levels of coping – in particular with regard to their sense of coherence and self-efficacy. In terms of their learning potential, their level of performance is commensurate with the tertiary diploma level of training for Operational Forces members. With regard to their career preferences, the sub-dimensions rated highest were Practical, Security, Precision, Formal, People, Outdoors, Challenges, Task Variety, Service and Sport – in line with the job demands of the Operational Forces context. In the comparison of the selected and not selected groups, the selected group showed statistically significantly higher mean scores on the meaningfulness sub-dimension of the sense of coherence construct and post-test of the learning potential measure. With regard to the career interest measure, the selected group showed lower levels of career related interest in Law and Medical when compared to the group that was not selected. The qualitative results showed strong evidence for the importance of meaningfulness for achieving success in the selection context. The findings of this study suggest that measures of coping, learning potential and career interest can contribute to the profiling of and prediction of success in the selection of operational force members.enLearning PotentialCareer InterestCopingPositive PsychologyConference PresentationVan Heerden, A., & De Beer, M. (2015). Learning potential, career interest and coping profile of a group of SOF candidates. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/10202Van Heerden, Adelai, and Morris De Beer. "Learning potential, career interest and coping profile of a group of SOF candidates." (2015): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/10202Van Heerden A, De Beer M, Learning potential, career interest and coping profile of a group of SOF candidates; 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/10202 .TY - Conference Presentation AU - Van Heerden, Adelai AU - De Beer, Morris AB - The aim of this mixed method study was to obtain a general profile of candidates (N=251) applying to join the Operational Forces of the South African National Defence Force in terms of their coping (hardiness, sense of coherence, locus of control and self-efficacy), learning potential and career related interests and to explore their reasons for wanting to become and their perceptions of what it takes to achieve success as an Operational Forces soldier. Furthermore, those that were successful in the selection (N=26) were compared on the various measures to those that were not successful (N=225). The results indicate that the applicant group show high levels of coping – in particular with regard to their sense of coherence and self-efficacy. In terms of their learning potential, their level of performance is commensurate with the tertiary diploma level of training for Operational Forces members. With regard to their career preferences, the sub-dimensions rated highest were Practical, Security, Precision, Formal, People, Outdoors, Challenges, Task Variety, Service and Sport – in line with the job demands of the Operational Forces context. In the comparison of the selected and not selected groups, the selected group showed statistically significantly higher mean scores on the meaningfulness sub-dimension of the sense of coherence construct and post-test of the learning potential measure. With regard to the career interest measure, the selected group showed lower levels of career related interest in Law and Medical when compared to the group that was not selected. The qualitative results showed strong evidence for the importance of meaningfulness for achieving success in the selection context. The findings of this study suggest that measures of coping, learning potential and career interest can contribute to the profiling of and prediction of success in the selection of operational force members. DA - 2015-09 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Learning Potential KW - Career Interest KW - Coping KW - Positive Psychology LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2015 T1 - Learning potential, career interest and coping profile of a group of SOF candidates TI - Learning potential, career interest and coping profile of a group of SOF candidates UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/10202 ER -