Abstract

Previous research on the relationships of physical fitness to success in flight training has produced mixed results. One reason for this may be that fitness scores can be influenced by a persons motivation or determination. Student aviators (N = 287) were tested for fitness on the modified Harvard Step Test on two occasions with a 48-hour period intervening. Scores of fitness from the first session were used to control partially for endurance scores in the second session by computing standard scores for fitness and endurance and obtaining the difference between them. These three measures plus three self-report measures of fitness were related to the dichotomous chriterion of pass/not pass. The difference score, or grit, and two of the questionnaire items added unique variance to the prediction of whether a student would be separated from flight training. However, contrary to expectations, the grit score was negatively related to the criterion. Verf.-Referat