Development of a Structured Interview to Screen for Emotional Instability in Nuclear Power Plant Operation Applicants

The project is directed toward the development of a structured interviewing procedure for assessing emotional instability in applicants for nuclear power plant operator positions. In the first phase of this study, hypothetical work situations were developed, along with behaviorally anchored rating scales on which to rate responses to the situations, a behavioral checklist, and administration and scoring procedures. In the second phase, the reliability of the scoring procedures was assessed. Psychometric characteristics of four types of scores were analyzed. Scores based on responses to hypothetical work situations were much more reliable than scores based on behaviors applicants reportedly engaged in during the interview. The instrument was found to be more reliable measuring some constructs than others. Implications are discussed