Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-31
SUCH EXAMINING BEING
PERFECTED In ALL CAMPS
Work at Hancock in Charge of
Lieut.. John J. B. Morgan

II one wanders through the nine hun
bred section on Pennsylvania avenue. he
can hardly fail to see on the infirmary
building in that area the sign "Psycholo-
gical xamining Board" If he should go
into the building so marked. ne would see
the slogan American Brains VIII Win
the War" If he is inquisitive concerning
the meaning of these signs, any officer
or enlisted man in the camp can enlighten
him, for practically all have gone through
this min.
In the spring Of 1917. when everyone
was in search Of some way in which he
could do his bit toward winning the war
a group Of prominent American psycohoI-
ogtsts got together to discuss how they
could contribute their part. They fore
saw that with the draft machinery going
fun blast Uncle Sam would be confront
ed with gigantic task In the proper
mental and oecupational classification of
the millions to be indicted into the serv-
ice.
The occupational classification prob
lem was attacked in detail by Professor
Walter Dill Scott, for many years pro-
fessor of psychology at Northwestern Uni
Yersity. He devised an entirely new
scheme, presented II to the adiutant gem
erhl. and had it adopted by the war de-
pertinent. He is now at the head OF tho
personnel work at Washington. The per-
sonnet classification is based on infor-
nation gathered through a personal in
terView with the man, the information be-
ing properly HIasRlileN ana recorded.
70 other psychologists, however, II was
evident that what a man tells you about
himself has to be taken with a grain Of
salt The braggart win overrate him
self and the capable modest man wiz not
do himself justice Here the psychology
cal test comes in and measures each man
by an objective standard His standing
tn the psychological examination IL de-
ternlined not by his eonceit or Inodestsf,
but by his actual ability
The group Of psychologists who al
tackled this problem of an Intelligence ex-
animation for army recruits secured the
field for tests that could be adapted to
the examination of a large group OF men
at one time. Early In the summer Of
19f7 set Of tests had been selected and
tried at several officers training camps
At the same time the same tests were
given to known feeble minded individuals
AS a result of this experimental study
the tests that showed the most marked
distinction between high and low grade
men were gathered together and the re-
suits from them presented to the surgeon
general, He accepted tn scheme In a
tntative way and appointed Major Robert
M. Yerkes to take charge Of the work
In September forty psychologists were
appointed and began work i'm four camps.
cember the work had made such an inn
preston that the War College decided to
adopt it IN all the camps.
There are two different examinations
The particular one that a man shall take
is determined by his familiarity with the
English language. When n company is
called for examination, those who have
reached certain grade in school are ask
ed 10 step forward Each man I'm the
front line Is then questioned concerning
his schooling and doubtful cases are ask
ed to read quickly a short passage of
print. II they fail 10 come up to the
standard they steD TO the rear rank. Those
who can read and write readily are taken
into one examination. called Examination