The Washington times., 1919-04-23
BRAIN TESTS GIVEN
TOl,726,OOO YANKS

Major Robert NJ. Yerkes, IN the
March issue OF the Psychological Re-
view, explains the scope of psyche
logical tests and examinations In the
military service during the war. He
also tells of aid given the. Navy
Department.
The work was done under the di-
rection OF a group Of scientists, which
| included Major John B. Watson, a
member of the faculty Of Johns Hop
kins University. Major Watson was
sent to Europe to gather statistics
upon qualities essential to success as
a military aviator.
| Major Yerkes records that mental
examination finally was organized in
thirty-five training camps, and that
up to January 1 OF this year 1,726,000
men had been given psychological ex-
animation. including 1000 commits
stoned officers. More than $1,000 en-
listed men in the above total were
given individual examinations.
Between April p and November 80.
in 1918, 7,749 men were reported or
discharged because Of mental inferi-
| ority, the number recommended for
! assignment to labor battaIions be-
cause beIow-grade intelligence was
| 0,ST1, and 9,432 were recommended
| for assignment to development bat
| talions, so that they might be
| studied further in order to find uses
for them in the service.
When the army authorities realized
! that the psychologists who, begin
ming with a committee to aid the
military service. had evolved an ef-
fective organization. could render es-
sential service in numerous fields.
| other than the general examinations
for mental ratings, steps were taken
to put to work various subsidiary or
ganiza tions, with duties in special
| divisions Of the service.
Major Watson Organizes Researcher.
As this developed. Major Watson
was assigned in the summer Of 1911
the task of framing methods, other
than medical, to be used by examining
boards for the selection Of personnel.
Major Watson also assisted in organ
izing a group of research psychology
lists. to collaborate with physiOlogists
and medical officers in the study Of
ayiational problems.
One OF the results Of this work by
Major Watson and his associates was
the development Of the PHYSIOLOGY
oratory at Hazelhurst field. Mineola
l. I. Working at this station, Major
knight Dunlap. il is stated by Major
Yerkes. was primarily responsible for
framing a series OF psychological
tests to aid in asCertaining the ability
of candidates for the aviation ser
vice to stand the effects OF high al
titudes, with their decreased oxygen.
In general" said Major Yerke.-.
"the method employed called for the
performance by the subject OF a group
of continuous tasks involving Co-ordi-
mated reactions during the gradual
decrease OF oxygen supply"
UnIts Detailed To Field Work.
From this section at Mineola. units
were sent into the field to administer
tests to aviation cadets.
After a time. requests reached tia
psychologists for assistance in the Sc
Iecting and training OF scouts and OBJ
servers, and Major Watson and Capt. !
Madison Bentley. Of the University OF
Illinois, were assigned to the duty.
The tests evolved for this work in
cluded noting and naming various
combinations OF cOlored lights; pic /
ture completion, by which the ability /
Of men TO note details IL asCertained. /
logical relations examples. by which
mental alertness Is noted and I'm
proved; judgment OF numbers of men,
examples in orienthtion for the pur-
pose Of aiding men to keep locations
and directions; and examples in de-
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