Preliminary studies have considered the potential acceptability, practicability, appropriateness, and relevance of the VFA, all key components of clinical utility (Smart, 2006). A survey of professionals familiar with the VFA (n=30) found that the majority of professionals thought that the VFA would be a relevant, appropriate, and effective tool for job matching. Similarly, most thought that the VFA would be of practical use and acceptable to other key stakeholders.
The VFA comparative algorithm makes evaluative judgments for each of the 9 possible combinations of abilities and demands. This use of clinical reasoning to evaluate these data electronically enables faster and more consistent processing, effectively increasing the reliability and efficiency of the job matching process. Three pilot studies have been undertaken in an effort to ascertain the accuracy of the comparative algorithm. Pilot 1 resulted in a total of 335 simulated trials, 246 of which supported the comparative algorithm, a 73.4% success rate. Pilot 2, which consisted of 185 trials and was conducted with second year students resulted in a 100% success rate. Professional key stakeholders contributed data for the third pilot of the VFA comparative algorithm. Pilot 3 resulted in 291 successful trials out of 360 opportunities, an 80.8% success rate. Taken together, the results of these pilot studies strongly support the basic logic of the VFA comparative matching algorithm.
A second survey of professionals (n=8) with experience using the VFA for informing the job matching process found that: (1) 97% agree that the VFA is appropriate, (2) 95% agree that the VFA is likely to be effective, (3) 100% agree that the VFA is relevant to professional needs, (4) 100% agree that the time requirement (i.e., approximately 30 minutes) is reasonable, (5) 100% are likely to use the VFA again for job matching, and (6) 100% trust the VFA comparative algorithm.
The VFA comparative algorithm makes evaluative judgments for each of the 9 possible combinations of abilities and demands. This use of clinical reasoning to evaluate these data electronically enables faster and more consistent processing, effectively increasing the reliability and efficiency of the job matching process. Three pilot studies have been undertaken in an effort to ascertain the accuracy of the comparative algorithm. Pilot 1 resulted in a total of 335 simulated trials, 246 of which supported the comparative algorithm, a 73.4% success rate. Pilot 2, which consisted of 185 trials and was conducted with second year students resulted in a 100% success rate. Professional key stakeholders contributed data for the third pilot of the VFA comparative algorithm. Pilot 3 resulted in 291 successful trials out of 360 opportunities, an 80.8% success rate. Taken together, the results of these pilot studies strongly support the basic logic of the VFA comparative matching algorithm.
A second survey of professionals (n=8) with experience using the VFA for informing the job matching process found that: (1) 97% agree that the VFA is appropriate, (2) 95% agree that the VFA is likely to be effective, (3) 100% agree that the VFA is relevant to professional needs, (4) 100% agree that the time requirement (i.e., approximately 30 minutes) is reasonable, (5) 100% are likely to use the VFA again for job matching, and (6) 100% trust the VFA comparative algorithm.