Group Differences in the Role of g and Prior Job Knowledge in the Acquisition of Subsequent Job Knowledge

The role of ability and prior job knowledge on the acquisition of subsequent job knowledge was examined for 41,976 participants in technical training. Comparisons were made for samples of men and women and for Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics. Ability and prior job knowledge were measured prior to entering job training and subsequent job knowledge was measured at the completion of job training. The structural equation model that was used had been statistically confirmed and had shown a role for both ability and prior job knowledge. In all groups, the relative causal impact of ability was far greater than that of prior job knowledge. It should be noted, however, that the relative causal effect of ability and prior job knowledge varied by group, being greater for women and Blacks. Contrary to expectations, prior job knowledge had virtually no causal role regarding the acquisition of subsequent job knowledge for women. The R square for predicting subsequent job knowledge was about equal for men and women, but less for Blacks than for Whites or Hispanics.