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Glossary of VITAS Work Samples

This glossary describes the essence of each task in VITAS. Note that oral and/or written instructions are always provided as a formal part of the administration of each work sample. Performance is scored in two independent ways: time to complete the task (a time clock is used to record starting and ending times) and number of errors (precise instructions for scoring errors are provided in the VITAS Administration Manual). Time and error raw scores are converted to scale scores by consulting norm tables in the manual.

#1 Nuts, Bolts and Washers Assemblyrequires assembly of sets of two sizes of nuts, bolts and washers. Client places appropriate size washer on bolt, threads appropriate size nut onto bolt and places assembly into the appropriate bin.

#2 Packing Matchbooks requires packing matchbooks into ten two-compartment trays. Matchbooks must be placed so that matchbooks with wide edge up alternate with those with narrow edge up.

#3 Tile Sorting and Weighing requires using a scale to load each of eight color-coded cups with tiles of the same color to achieve a total weight of cup and tilesas marked on the outside of each cup; e.g. the red cup, marked "4 oz.", is placed on the scale and loaded with enough red tiles to bring the pointer to the four ounce line.

#4 Collating Material Samples requires sorting, ordering and binding swatches of leather of different colors and textures into five sets of with each set matching a model set.

#5 Verifying Numbers requires comparing and, when discrepant, correcting a series of paired two-digit numbers in columns on a test sheet to numbers on a set of cards in an index file.

#6 Pressing Linens requires using a presser and water spray bottle to smooth linen napkins and then to fold them precisely into halves and quarters, each.

#7 Budget Book Assembly requires assembling budget books. Each is assembled by counting out paper envelopes, cutting a specified length of string using a 12 inch nails and a pair of scissors, and then binding the envelopes, threading the string through holes in the cover and envelopes, tying a bow knot with the two ends of the string and snapping the plastic cover closed. A completed sample is presented as a model.

#8 Nail and Screw Sorting Part I requires sorting nails and screws by length using a ruler marked to the eighth of an inch.

#8 Nail and Screw Sorting Part 11 requires hand computing five customer bills. Each bill has 12 items. For each of the 12, the number of items sold (e.g. 22 of the item "3/8 inch screws") is multiplied by the cost per item to get a total cost for each item. The 12 total are then added to get the total cost to the customer.

#9 Pipe Assembly requires connecting pieces of threaded pipe of varying sizes in order to match a photograph of the completed assembly.

#10 Filing by Letters requires alphabetically sorting index cards printed with names and addresses.

#11 Lock Assembly requires assembly of a working door lock from its mechanical components. Four line drawings of successive phases of the assembly are as a guide.

#12 Circuit Board Inspection requires checking a sheet with drawings of electronic components for differences in size, shape and direction from actual components mounted on a circuit board. When the drawing of any individual component differs from the component it represents, an "X" is marked over the drawing of the component.

#13 Calculating requires using a calculator to add columns of numbers.

#14 Message Taking requires listening to an audiocassette player and recording information from taped telephone conversations. An index file of names and addresses of "callers" is provided for reference to permit accurate and complete recording of details.

#15 Bank Teller requires completion of a ten section Daily Record Worksheet based on the contents of a tellers cash drawer, Cash deposit slips, withdrawal slips recording cash given to and received from other tellers, and checks are recorded and totaled by using a calculator.

# 16 Proofreading requires checking a set of printed copy for errors against a correct set of copy. Instructions include specific conventions to be used in marking errors and making corrections.

# 17 Payroll Computation requires use of the calculator to complete the Payroll Computation Worksheet. For 20 different workers, the sheet indicates the number of hours worked and the regular rate of pay for that worker. The task requires calculating total pay, including regular pay (i.e. earned in the first 40 hours of work), and, for workers with more than 40 hours of work on the sheet, overtime pay as well (at the overtime rate of time-and-a half).

#18 Census Interviewing has two parts. The first part requires listening to an audiocassette player and recording census information from taped interviews onto a blank Census Interview Report. The second part requires completion of the Census Interview Summary Report. Already Census Interview Reports on 25 individuals are summarized by computing and recording on the Summary Report how many persons out, of the 25 fall into each of ten demographic categories (e.g. the number of persons who live in apartments). In addition, four questions require hand computing averages across the 25 people (e.g. the average age of the persons interviewed).

#19 Spot Welding requires cutting, bending and spot welding strips of metal to fabricate two metal squares. The use of the spot welder is demonstrated and supervised practice in its use is provided, but specific instructions for each step involved in the task are given on a printed sheet.

# 20 Laboratory Assistant has three parts. The first requires use of a triple beam balance scale to weigh to the gram each of 15 test tubes and their contents. In the second part, the scale is used to fill each of six jars with enough of three specified "chemicals" to make the jar and its contents weigh the amount indicated on the worksheet. The tubs holding the chemicals and the jars to be filled are labeled with chemical symbols (e.g. "MoS4") that must be matched to each other. The third part requires determining the pH value of each of six liquid samples by using litmus paper.

#21 Drafting requires using a drafting board and tools to make an exact copy of four straight line figures, The drawings must be accurate in their dimensions and angles and must be labeled with dimensions, dimension lines and extension lines. Tolerance of 1/16th of an inch is allowed in scoring the drawings.

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