title: Psychological selection of Antarctic personnel: the "SOAP" instrument.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK.
authors.forename: Iain
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Hege R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Eriksen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marquis
authors.forename: Ingrid J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Orre
authors.forename: Lawrence A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Palinkas
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suedfeld
authors.forename: Erling
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Svensen
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ursin
mesh_terms: 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