Relating Alcohol-Induced Performance Deficits To Mental-Capacity - A Suggested Methodology

    Authors

    R. S. Kennedy; W. P. Dunlap; J. J. Turnage;J. E. Fowlkes

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Aviat. Space Environ. Med.

    Keywords

    Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Medicine, General &; Internal; Sport Sciences

    Abstract

    Performance tests are generally more reliable and more easily administered than on-the-job measures of performance, and in this way are preferable for studying the adverse consequences of environmental stressors. However, a linkage or context would be useful in interpretation of these laboratory measures. This paper reports findings with two indexing methods using multiple regression. In the first study, we illustrate ''dose equivalency'' where deficits on microcomputer performance tests were related to graded dosages of alcohol, and prediction equations of blood alcohol level were established. In the second experiment, ''surrogate criteria'' are demonstrated where cognitive mental tests of military aptitude, known to be predictive of operational performances, were administered to a sample who were tested repeatedly on the same microcomputer performance test. Multiple regression analyses of the computerized tests with the aptitude tests were significant (p < 0.01) and ranged from R = 0.50 to 0.94. Finally, the loss in performance owing to alcohol was indexed to loss on the microcomputer tests through the relationship of the tests to the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Since the latter is strongly predictive of all forms of military operational performance, we suggest that alcohol- related losses in microcomputer performance test scores can serve as a useful intermediary, permitting meaningful linkage to these real-world performances.

    Journal Title

    Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine

    Volume

    64

    Issue/Number

    12

    Publication Date

    1-1-1993

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1077

    Last Page

    1085

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:A1993MK44100001

    ISSN

    0095-6562

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