Psychological selection of Antarctic personnel: the "SOAP" instrument.
BACKGROUND
The potential advantage of including a psychological test battery in the selection process for service in the Antarctic was examined in 348 applicants for employment in Antarctica with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).


METHODS
Applicants were screened with the Selection of Antarctic Personnel battery (SOAP) consisting of nine well-known psychological instruments. The SOAP scores were not revealed to the BAS selection panel members, who based the selection on operational criteria, interview, and a general medical examination. The SOAP scores of those selected (n = 177) were further compared with station commanders' reports of winter adaptation (n = 140), and subjective health complaints (SHC) (n = 86).


RESULTS
There were no significant agreements between SOAP scores (n = 348) and those actually selected by the BAS panel (121 accepted, 227 not accepted) (Cohen's Kappas for inter-rater agreement < 0.20). Participants characterized as exceptionally well adapted by the station commanders had higher scores on Openness on the NEO-FFI (the "Big Five" personality inventory) [Odds Ratio (OR) = 5.2], and higher levels of Emotion-Focused Coping (OR = 2.7) and fewer SHC (OR = 0.3). Participants rated by station commanders as "poor" had higher levels of Defensive Hostility (OR = 4.2), and lower levels of Emotion-Focused Coping (OR = 0.3). Women had higher rates of success in service than men, but were less likely to be selected.


CONCLUSIONS
Adding a psychological test battery would improve the odds of selecting good performers, and reduce the odds of selecting poor performers.
Grant
Iain
I
British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK.
Eriksen
Hege R
HR
Marquis
Peter
P
Orre
Ingrid J
IJ
Palinkas
Lawrence A
LA
Suedfeld
Peter
P
Svensen
Erling
E
Ursin
Holger
H
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D003081:Cold Climate; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010560:Personnel Selection; D011581:Psychological Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013026:Space Flight; D006113:United Kingdom