Rorschach Variables and Big Five Scales as Predictors of Military Training Completion: A Replication Study of the Selection of Candidates to the Naval Special Forces in Norway

Abstract

We tested 140 male candidates at the Naval Special Forces (NFS) of Norway on the Rorschach (Exner, 2003; Rorschach, 1921/1942) and the Norwegian version of the Big Five personality dimensions (Engvik & F⊘llesdal, 2005). Rorschach variables significantly correlated with training completion (effect sizes of r _e = .14–.25), whereas none of the Big Five factors or facets did. The combination of Rorschach and Big Five variables framed in the illusory mental health concept provided strong predictive ability. Testing under stress produced slightly higher predictive validity coefficients between the Rorschach variables and pass–fail than under calm testing. The findings support the results of Hartmann, Sunde, Kristensen, and Martinussen (2003), indicating that Rorschach variables and indications of good mental health may be valid predictors of NFS training.

Acknowledgments

We thank the Naval Special Forces training instructors for helpful practical assistance and Gregory J. Meyer, Monica Martinussen, and the reviewers for statistical advice and helpful comments on initial drafts of the article. Ellen Hartmann presented preliminary findings from the study at the Society for Personality Assessment Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, 2006.

All views expressed in this article are those of the authors, and they do not necessarily reflect the views of the Norwegian Armed Forces.

Notes

¹By mistake, Hartmann, Sunde, et al. (2003) reported the relationship for Agreeableness as negative in the index study when in fact it was positive, as reported in Hartmann et al. (2008).

²By mistake, Hartmann, Sunde, et al. (2003) did not report this in the index study, as reported in Hartmann et al. (2008).

³All the parenthesized material is our interpretations of what the variable is supposed to mean in the context of our study.

∗p < .05, two-tailed.

∗∗ p < .01, two-tailed.

^† p < .05, one-tailed.

^‡ p < .01, one-tailed.

∗p < .05 two-tailed.

∗∗ p < .01 two-tailed.

∗p < .05, one-tailed.

^a Nagelkerle R ² = .255.

^b Nagelkerle R ² = .278.