Physical Abilities in Work Settings

Introduction

Human physical performance is a domain of human abilities. Many of the assessment problems in this area are those met by psychologists interested in individual differences in other domains of human abilities. However, until recently, the constructs for describing the domain of physical abilities were not well defined and the range of capacities and measures to be included needed to be specified. This entry deals with research on the definition and organization [Page 719]of physical abilities, the identification of diagnostic and reliable measures for assessing particular physical abilities, and the assessment and predication of performance in physically demanding tasks and jobs.

There is today particular interest in physical abilities in the workplace due to a number of national and social concerns. One concern stems from the increasing number of women seeking entry into physically demanding work. Women are becoming fire fighters, police officers, soldiers, pilots, construction workers, telephone linemen, warehouse loaders, and are entering other jobs formerly occupied only by men. In the US, it is legally mandatory for employers to demonstrate that they are following procedures that are fair to various members of the labour force – men, women, and different minority and ethnic groups. Such developments increase the need to identify the particular physical abilities required for such jobs and to identify objective, reliable, and valid methods for assessing the relevant abilities in applicants for these jobs.

Identification of Physical Abilities and Measures

Research in this area grew out of research on the dimensions of psychomotor abilities. Over the years, an extensive series of interlocking, experimental, factor-analytic studies attempted to isolate and identify the common variance in a wide range of psychomotor performances. Subsequent studies tended to introduce task variations aimed at sharpening or limiting our ability-factor definitions (for a review see Fleishman, 1972b). It was established that the psychomotor abilities identified (e.g. control precision, rate control, multi-limb coordination, reaction time, finger and manual dexterity, arm-hand steadiness) have little relation to performance of physical tasks and are independent of abilities in the physical performance domain (e.g. Hempel & Fleishman, 1955).

Physical abilities involve larger muscle groups than do psychomotor abilities and require more gross bodily movements. There had been many questions regarding the different basic physical ability dimensions to be assessed, their definitions, and the basic measures most diagnostic of these abilities. Is there a general strength factor? Are ability factors common to muscle groups? Or to movements involving extensor or flexor muscles? Can prolonged strain introduce new physical ability factors? How do conditions of administration (e.g. timed vs. untimed) affect what is measured? Are terms such as agility, speed, strength, and muscular endurance useful, or are they too general?

Fleishman (1964, 1975) described a programme of large-scale factor-analytic studies examining the interrelationships among actual physical performances. These studies involved large batteries of physical performance tests, specifically designed to test various hypotheses about the organization and nature of physical abilities. These studies identified and defined nine physical performance abilities. A recent large-scale study confirmed these findings for both men and women and with a more diverse set of physical tests (see Myers, Gebhardt, Crump & Fleishman, 1993). This programme indicated the range of performances that involved these abilities, provided detailed definitions of each ability, and identified the tests that were reliable and diagnostic of each of them (see also Fleishman & Reilly, 1992).

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