The article can be found on e-reserve.
(From the article) "The goal behind the development of the instrument was to provide practitioners with a tool that they could use to compare an individual's performance relevant skill sets with the demands of specific performance situations." (In other words, the test will predict whether the way you relate to people and the way you tend to pay attention are compatible with what you are trying to do.
First of all, do not be daunted by the length of the reading! This is skimable. In fact, It's a good exercise in encountering a text of this nature.
Start by asking, "How is the paper organized?" You'll find that that there are seven numbered main points, several subheads but no major headings.
As you read those main points make note of any vocabulary that is unfamiliar to you and look those words up. The writer assumes familiarity with these words and you will need them to understand the reading.
Next, read the Summary. This will tell you why the author wrote the paper. He concludes, "The resolution of these different views can only occur when researchers begin to design studies that recognize the complexity of human performance, and take into account critical individual differences, instead of consigning them to the error term in their statistical formula." Reading that conclusion, what do you predict prompted the author to write this paper?
Now go to the opening of the paper. Look again at the title. What' s this going to be about? It's going to be about a Theory vs. a Test, right? The test is the test you took. Now you're going to become familiar with the theory behind the test. The goal of this reading is just that: to become familiar with Nideffer's theory of this test he created as a way to predict what? Right! Attentional and Interpersonal Style.
What You Will Write
Read each of the seven numbered points and write a one or two sentence summary of each point. Yes, he does conclude each point with his own "in summary" but I am looking for your summary in your own words.
Write about what was the most interesting idea or ideas that you encountered in his theory.
Write about how you might use this theory in your own endeavors. Be specific. "To do better in school" is not as specific as "to improve my reading retention." "To score more free-throws" is pretty darn specific but "to experiment with a more narrow external focus as I set up for my free throw" is a more fully-processed response.
This response will be 2-3 typed pages.