University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1914-02-16
ARE YOU FITTED FOR YOUR JOB?
Psychological Tests Tell What Kind of Mind
the Student Has and His Ability For
Certain Lines of Work.

and to be used in practical life. AT
present the tests are being used with
= school children of Columbia and Mex
leo by Professor Pyle. Aside from
/ getting significant data from these
/ tests the children and teachers in
these schools are being helped through
I them.
The tests consist of a series of eX-
/ ercises, each one of which is designed
to test some aspect of mental capacity.
Imagination is tested by having stu
dent tell what he can see i'm a series of
ink-blOts. Rote memory is tested by
the ability to repeat successive lists of
words which have no connection. Log
ical memory is tested by the ability
TO reproduce the thought of a story.
Cancellation is tested by the quick
ness in cancelling out all of a GER
tain letter on a printed page. Inven-
tiOn is tested by the ability to build
words out of a given number of let
ters. Association is tested by giving
a student word and telling him to re-
peat all the words it brings into his
mind. Learning ability is found by
use of the substitution test. In it
the students ability to substitute GER
tain symbols for the accustomed let
ters or figures is shown. The latter
two tests are considered to be very
important in determining the mental
ability
Among the students referred to in
the foregoing list the points made in
the learning test and the association
test correlate with the general abil-
ity and the class standing with little
exception.
Several tests are made by use of me-
chanical devices. The range of atten-
ton is tested by having the students
look through a slot at a picture that
is exposed for a certain number OF
seconds. Sentences are also used in
the same way. An automatic device
opens and closes the slot so that the
time is exact with all students. and
the head is placed a certain distance
from the slot. The student tells after
each exposure what he saw. and the
grade is given according to the num-
ber of accurate details seen. Steadi-
ness is tested by the ability to hold
a needle in a small hole without touch
ing the sides of the hole. Contacts
are registered on a ticker through |
an electric circuit. Quickness is test !
ed by the quickness in striking a plate /.
with rod. The number of contacts is /:
registered Hearing and /
vision are also tested by means of suit I.
able instruments. /
AS general thing. says Professor /
Pyle. quick motion or action goes
with quick thinking and vice versa /
Good mental ability and good physical
development go together among those
who are not matured. AS a general
rule children of certain age who are
arther advanced in school work are
better developed physically.
Professor Pyle says he has no doubt 4
hat these tests in more highly de-
'eloped and perfected form will be
lsed some day to determine whether :,
applicants are fit for positions when
hey apply for them. He cites the
Tork of Professor Munsterberg of Har-
ard in testing men for their abilities
Is street-car motormen, sailors or
'ilots of ships, and girls for their
bilities as telephone operators. In
hese tests Professor Munsterberg was
cry successful, though he himelf says
will still be some time before these
ests can be applied generally. How
yer. he says the time will come when
ii big firms will employ a psychology
al expert as a part Of the force and
hat all applicants will be tested.
he tests will be reduced to formulas
o that ordinarily an expert will not
'e needed in giving them.
Professor Pyle also advocates the
lse of such tests in public schools All
'upils should be tested once a year he
ays and their records kept on file
n this way the tendencies of students
Ould be noted and teachers would
now better how to guide them in their
chool work. Whether a student was
or loafing could be told
Moreover, he points out. students
Ould be given vocational guidance.
which he believes should be done in
he interests of a more efficient soci-
,ty. These tests could be given by
'egular teachers, Professor Pyle says.
,ut shOuld he given undar tho dirac