Assessing the status of cognitive abilities in the performance of personnel in a military unit

Cognitive abilities related to the executive functions of the brain are divided into different categories by different researchers based on major theoretical frameworks in the field of neuropsychology. One of the most well-known frameworks includes seven abilities: memory, sustained attention, planning, decision-making, inhibitory control and selective attention, social cognition, and cognitive flexibility. According to the axioms of neuropsychology, since brain functions are related to behavior, neuropsychologists conclude that brain function leads to the emergence of the aforementioned abilities. On this basis, the aim of the present study is to identify the status of seven cognitive abilities in the performance of personnel in a military unit. In this regard, the status of each of the items related to cognitive abilities in the performance of personnel was questioned. To answer each of the questions, after reviewing and studying the theoretical foundations and research background and using the localized cognitive abilities questionnaire that was standardized for clinical work by Nejati in Iran; An attempt was made to revise the overall structure of the questionnaire according to the working environment of the employees of the unit in question and in accordance with their job mission. The validity of the questionnaire was measured using content validity and its reliability was also measured through Cronbach's alpha, and an alpha coefficient of (93.5) was obtained. 197 people were selected from the total statistical population of employees using the Morgan Krejci method. The results of data analysis showed that 94.4% of the respondents evaluated the memory status, 80.7% the sustained attention status, 89.8% the planning status, 91.9% the decision-making status, 85.3% the inhibitory control and selective attention status, 63.5% the social cognition status, and 89.8% the cognitive flexibility status in the performance of the employees of the unit in question as high and very high. The results of inferential analyses also showed that all the calculated statistics are significant at the p<..01 level. Considering the results obtained in each of the components of cognitive capabilities, it can be concluded that the seven cognitive capabilities mentioned above improve the performance of the employees of the unit in question with regard to matters related to them.