6000 6th Street—Building 1464

Ft Belvoir, Virginia 22060-5610

E-mail: USARI@email.com

US Army Research Institute for US Army Research Institute for US Army Research Institute for

the Behavioral and Social Sciencesthe Behavioral and Social Sciencesthe Behavioral and Social Sciences

TAPASTAPAS TAILORED ADAPTIVE PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT SYSTEM

Why TAPAS MattersWhy TAPAS Matters

Army applicants are screened on cognitive

factors. Cognitive assessments (basically, what a

person knows) are determined by the Armed

Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

An applicant’s ASVAB scores are used to

determine enlistment eligibility and qualification for

specific Army jobs or MOS.

A successful Soldier is resilient, works hard,

shows leadership potential, supports peers,

handles challenges, is disciplined, and is

committed to the Army. These are outcomes that

the ASVAB was never designed to predict — the

“will-do” aspects of being a Soldier, as compared

to the “can-do” aspects (e.g., job knowledge)

which ASVAB predicts.

To assess “will-do” aspects in potential

Soldiers, the TAPAS measures non-cognitive

temperament, attitude, and motivational

characteristics. The TAPAS is designed to

measure dimensions that are essential for future

Soldier performance.

TAPAS enhances the Army’s ability to conduct

a “whole person assessment” that includes both

cognitive (ASVAB) and non-cognitive (TAPAS)

aspects. This “whole person assessment”

approach ensures that each individual selected

into the Army possesses the ability as well as the

temperament that is critical for success in the

Army.

Introduction to TAPASIntroduction to TAPAS

The Tailored Adaptive Personality Assessment System (TAPAS) is a computer administered assessment of personality and motivation important in military jobs.

TAPAS assesses an applicant’s potential to fit in

and succeed in the military. TAPAS is administered at Military Entrance

Processing Stations (MEPS) along with the ASVAB. TAPAS contains items measuring more than a

dozen personality characteristics. Applicants are presented with two statements and

asked to pick the one that best describes them. TAPAS selects items that are most informative

about the applicant’s personal characteristics. The individual’s response to an item determines what the next pair of statements will be.

Because TAPAS adapts to an applicant’s

responses, each assessment is virtually unique.

Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions

How long will it take for me to complete the TAPAS?

Approximately 20-30 minutes. What are TAPAS scores used for?

TAPAS scores are used to evaluate applicants’ suitability for military life, performance potential, and successful adjustment in the Army.

Are there “right and wrong” answers? No. There are no “right and wrong” answers, but it is most important to be honest in your responses to determine your suitability for the Army. What happens if I don’t take this test seriously? You should take this test seriously because it helps the Army to better understand you as a person. That way, better decisions could be made about your potential for success in the Army.

Does everyone get the same set of questions? No. Because each individual’s response determines what item they will see next, no two people are likely to take the exact same assessment. How soon will I know my score? Your career counselor will get your score after you have completed the ASVAB and TAPAS. Does this actually work? Yes. Research by the Army has followed more than 100,000 recruits just like you during their first term of enlistment. TAPAS scores were found to predict how well soldiers perform, how satisfied Soldiers were with their job, and how interested they were to remain in the Army.

.

Sample TAPAS Item

Which of these statements is most like you?

A. I seldom lose sleep over worries

B. I have enjoyed being in positions of leadership

Note: Forced choice measures provide no obvious best/worst answer