Abstract
Personnel selection is carried out by the personnel psychologist/ personnel practitioner responsible for the supply of human resources. Selection models and -technology have been refined to a high degree and are scientifically acceptable. With regards to the identification of critical attributes on which selection is based, it is suggested in the study that job analysis be performed in the light of insights and knowledge gained in other branches of Industrial Psychology. Specifically the study shows that high and low work performance operators (N=25) involved in a vigilance task, can be differentiated on the basis of signal detection theory. The results of the study (t-test for differences between means) suggest that selection in the situation investigated, should be based on the ability to discriminate between signals and not on the response bias of operators. The results also indicate that the task, based on signal detection theory, which was designed for the study, could be used as a selection instrument.