Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-31
MIND TESTING EXPERIMENTS
ny FREDERIC j. H.skiN.
il.ty and

able u was thought that ability and
brain power were too elusive TO to-
measured. and, hcsidcs, tho tcstA
seemed chlidishly simple. But as .he.S
were tried all over the world. It waa
found chat the results checked uI{
closely with the abilities displayed byt
the subjects IN other lines. and the
method mus received it, vindication in
true scientific way-by experiment. i
one OF the best known Of the Binet |
simon tests is mat Of repeating nW
ucrs. This is test az conccntraV,
and memory, ~ the representing
is test %! logic and imagination. jDI
has been foUnd that the number
diSits Il person can repeat after hes
Ing another read them is good sau,
of certain 81 his mental qualities.
rcpeat three numbers. AS 5-.-T. is
test for young children 70 repe.
seven after hearing them read one
moderately fast III an even tone -
voice is "a test for the average adui,
us YOU can prove by trying IL TO re,
peat eight * - very crcditabie pcrforn,y
nn," showing superior ability. II III
necessary 10 have the numbers aT.i
ranged IN mixed order--uo l-2-3ks
among thcm-hnd to sc" that they an
not grouped" when read. rs This makc}
IN" t"St too easy number liktI
sato""7i should be read evenly IN Civ Y
lu. TIA" test. tnd not s3G-U9-3Ii n
Isychoios all over the world
have worked Al Improving aud extend
ine the sCop" Of the B.net-Simou tess
and some Of the best work in this lii
has been done III the United State
Al Leland Stanford University tn.
have devised complete set III mott
ueatons of the tests. and tried the
out and staudari.zed them on Il lar
number OF subjects
Test i"nrsclf With This.
Professor Term4u. Of Stanford. mem
lions au interesting test devised by,
h-ns"lf which he hnds gives n souf,
gauge Of the subjects ingenuity an
ability To meet a pr,cjica! problem CO.
!ug Tor resource aud originality.
finds that this test Is one OF tn
that mark fairly definite line
tween the average ana the superb.
adult. since comparatively few averal
adults solve IL, ana most Of the =
pcT!or subjects succeed. lie aiso fl
tl.a, II is appareRuy test Of ma
power rather than training. since
educated ncE ol good native talIr
succeed Is we'll As college men. LIZ
a! the ability tests it Is apparei
elementary 10 the point OF childishn
Here Il Is: I,
y man goes to the river to fe-
exactly seven quarts Of water
has one hvc-quart can and one thI ,,
quart can How can he measure
and bring back exactly seven qua
with these two cans; There are 81
cral notifications or this test. an e
time limit l. set. can YOU solve it+,
Tho science az testing the "a,
brain by tests based on the Biz
simon SYSTEM Is siill In its eses
STAGES. but II holds promise OF his
development in the future It IL o s
It" question whether tn. tests can e,s
II" completely fair to every TYNE
mind, They may always fail TO gar-
some OF tn" highest types 4 poet. n
musician. PRINTER, might fail ,yhe
the average man succeeded. But s
applied 10 the hulk Of humanity the Il
ls u" doubt that when standards ha, M
been perfected by. wide experiment. n
tests VIII furnish valuable instru
hcnt for determining both the exten.&
ana the character OF a mans Abilities