Examining the efficacy of inoculation and value-affirmation interventions in improving precandidate reactions among prospective military recruits

Abstract

This study engaged 4848 first-time, English-speaking prospective Canadian Armed Forces applicants to evaluate pre-application interventions' efficacy on the Practice Canadian Forces Aptitude Test (PCFAT). Using a five-level between-subjects design, participants were randomly assigned to one of the following intervention conditions: inoculation message, value-affirmation message, a combination of both, placebo writing intervention, or a no-intervention control group. The interventions were anchored in inoculation theory and value-affirmation theory and aimed to reduce math anxiety and close the gender gap in test performance. Contrary to expectations, the interventions did not significantly reduce math anxiety or improve problem-solving performance. Consistent with the literature, a negative relationship was found between levels of math anxiety and problem-solving scores, and men outscored women in problem-solving across all conditions. Despite these outcomes, the study lays a foundation for future research on enhancing pre-applicant experiences in an increasingly competitive labor market. Implications and future directions are discussed.