Dr. Kara L. Cross Ph.D. ABFE ABPS
Diplomat American Board of Forensic Examiners
Diplomat American Board of Psychology Specialists
BOOKS IN PRINT
Cross, Kara L. Dancing from the Heart Kendall Hunt Publishing August 30, 2008 ISBN-10 0757551939
Cross, Kara L. S.E.T.: Self Esteem for Tots Psychsupplies, 1999. Printed in the U.S.A.
RESEARCH
Cross, Kara L.; Wakcher, Sandra; and Blackman, Melinda. Personality Comparison of Airline Pilot Incumbents, Applicants and the Population on the 16PF Western Psychology Association Meeting; Cal State University Fullerton 2003
Cross, Kara L; Wakcher, Sandra; and Blackman, Melinda. Personality Comparison of Airline Pilot Incumbents, Applicants and the Population on the 16PF Psychological Reports 2003
Cross, Kara L; Kish, Robin; Flores, Roberto. Dance Observation and Music as Interventions with Elderly Residents California Psychological Association Convention; 2008
ARTICLES
Filling in the Blanks: Psychological Testing Is Nothing To Be Afraid Of, Airline Pilot Careers, June 2001
Test Patterns: Understanding the role of Aptitude Tests, Airline Pilot Careers, July 2001
Ace The Aptitudes: Practice Can Improve Test Scores, Airline Pilot Careers, October 2001
Psych Tests: Do you have the right stuff?, Airline Pilot Careers, March 2002
Window of Opportunity; Making the most of CRM skills, Airline Pilot Careers, July 2002
Seeing Red!Pilots must learn to keep their emotions in check Airline Pilot Careers, August 2002
Discussing Anger Management, Hidden feelings behind anger, Airline Pilot Careers, September 2002
Offering Constructive Criticism; Don’t get trapped by common mistakes, Airline Pilot Careers, October 2002
Filling in the Blanks: Psychological testing is nothing to be afraid of Airline Pilot Careers, June 2001
Test patterns: Understanding the role of aptitude tests Airline Pilot Careers, July 2001
No Fear! Dealing with defensiveness in psychological testing Airline Pilot Careers, January 2003
Psyching Out Psych Tests: Increasing self esteem and interpersonal warmth scores Airline Pilot Careers, June 2003
Further list available upon request.
Excerpts from Published Articles
Avoiding the Seven Deadly Sings of Pilot Decision – by Dr. Kara Cross
Airline Pilot Careers September 2005
The professional pilot’s worst nightmare is finding himself or herself in a unique aviation emergency or crisis situation, and being forced to take quick, often life-saving action. Such scenarios require excellent decision making capabilities.
Research clearly show that most accidents fall into two categories, 1) unavoidable and 2) pilot error. Category one includes unavoidable and uncontrollable weather developments or mechanical failures that result in a complete lack of airworthiness. Category two consists of one factor: poor decision making on the part of the pilot in command. Accidents in the second category may begin with weather and mechanical failure, but the ultimate cause of the accident is how the pilot in command reacts to the situation.
Accident report archives detail hundreds of situations that were impervious to pilot intervention. However, you may be able to recall a handful of incidents where expert handling in the flight deck turned potential disasters into miracles. Was it pure luck that saved the day, or did these pilots possess certain abilities that enabled them to work their out of an emergency situation. What does it take to become an “expert” or “master” pilot with respect to decision making in crisis situations? Both experience level and psychological factors come into play. Understanding where you fit in is a first step to having good decision skills.
Aptitude: With Symbolic Reasoning, Practice Makes Perfect – by Dr. Kara Cross
Airline Pilot Careers December 2004
Psychological and aptitude tests are a standard part of the airline interview process. Taking practice aptitude tests before your actual interview can help lower anxiety and increase accuracy on the test. One type of aptitude test that is commonly found in an airline test battery is the Symbolic Reasoning test, and it has left more than one pilot applicant frustrated and frightened.
Seriously though, Symbolic Reasoning test are challenging and confusing to many pilots. They delve into a form of abstract reasoning that is unusual and somewhat mathematical. Just the appearance of the test questions is enough to invoke severe test anxiety in some pilot applicants. To reduce the stress and improve your score on a Symbolic Reasoning test, it’s wise to learn as much as you can about symbolic reasoning – and practice the test questions.
Most symbolic reasoning tests utilize the mathematical symbols. Letters instead of numbers are used, making each question ambiguous. The purpose of this type of questioning is to assess whether or not the applicant 1) Can interpret symbols correctly, and 2) simultaneously think in both deductive and inductive reasoning styles. To prepare for the Symbolic Reasoning test portion process, use the following information and practice questions to expand your understanding of these concepts and boost your skills.
Abstract reasoning test consist of two types of questions. One asks you to decide if the information given is true, false or unknown based on the information available. The second type asks you to fill in the blank with a symbol with a symbol that is accurate given the information available.
Passing Psych Tests – Raising Your Conscientiousness and Emotional Scores – by Dr. Kara Cross
Airline Pilot Careers September 2004
An important part of the hiring process for professional pilots is the taking and passing of psychological exams. For many, however, these tests are far more frightening than any sim check or interview. The reason for this is that most pilots applying for a career with a major airline are truly professional in every sense of the word. They know their craft and know they can safely fly their planes in nearly every attitude and under any emergency. Today’s professional pilots also feel assured in tackling a face-to-face interview. They are secure in their knowledge and skill and have many hours of real-world experience, so answering verbal questions is not so scary.
As in all aspects of life, though, the most fearsome parts of the firing process are the unknowns. For pilots, these most often are the psychological tests they are required to take. The tests given to pilots have been developed to “weed out” those with less than desirable personality traits – such as a lack of conscientiousness or emotional instability-but unfortunately, there’s always a certain amount of error in the tests. These is no such thing as a psychological test that is 100-percent or even 99 percent accurate.
Since these tests have error in them, sometimes a pilot who is very emotionally stable and truly conscientious will appear to be weak in these areas. In other words, their test results will show a false score, typically due to a lack of perfection in the development of the test and the test questions since test are created by people (and people are far less than perfect) and there is such a thing as random error (every aspect of the human condition has error in it), no test can be fool proof. Having to take a test that’s subject to error sounds unfair, and perhaps it is, but this is state of the art psychology: imperfect test developers, random error in life, and imperfect tests. And although this may seem like a pitiful stat of affairs for the professional pilot seeking a career, all is not lost. These is something that the pilot candidate can do to help protect him or herself from this potentially unfair process. Be prepared for the test!
