Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-05-27
INTELLECT TEST
FOR CHILDREN
is NOVEL IDEA
HOosier Intelligence Exami
nation Lays Foundation
for School Work.
TRANSLATE FOR CHINESE

This article Is the first of a series
written by Professor Book dealing with
the Indiana Intelligence test, which is
being widely used in the State.)
BY PROF. w. f. BOOK.
Head of Psychology Department. Indiana
University.
In this State and many other States
200, 900 boys and girls in grade and high
schools are being given the Indiana IN
telligenee test az a means OF gauglng
the native ability of school boys and
girls. This test was originated and com
piled by the department Of psychology
after many months of research work
among public school students and II is
now being used in more than score OF
States as the test for determining native
mental ability. II IS also being trans
lated in the Chinese language and is to
be used In finding the abilities of the
Chinese boys and girls.
At this time the general test is being
given in various schools in the State and
BY the conclusion of the school year in
June the results Of the tests will be tab
ulated and used for studying changes
in the school curriculum. In the Indian
apOlis city schools 5000 students IN all
grades have been given the test and the
results are TO be compiled and from them
the school authorities will base their pro-
gram Of education. In Ft. Wayne, Terre
than fifty other Indiana cities these tests
are under way.
TESTS MADE FOR
SCHOOL PROGRAM
Purposes of the tests are to find the
general native ability of pupils in the
Indiana schools and then use that as
basis for formulating the school pro-
gram. For many years there have been
discussions as TO means Of measuring
h. Of
after much study and research work the
Indiana University department Of psy-
chology compiled the tests known as the
Indiana intelligence test.
Students being given the tests are CIV
en- from fifteen minutes in some tests
TO forty-fve minutes in the longer and
more exhaustive questions to write their
answers. There is no previous knowl-
edge Of when they will take these tests
and in addition the tests do not pertain
to the subjects they are studying at that
particular time.
Tests include the cross-cut mental scale
primer scale which differtn objects are
depicted and the primary students point
out and name the various objects, he
mental survey scale which is diagnos-
tic in character. two scales of attain
ment series Of tests and a reading test.
These various test scales will be fully
described in subsequent articles so that
the citizens Of the Hoosier state may have
an insight into the methods being used
to stimulate the school system of the
state to great efficiency for the numer-
Gus abilities presented them by the pu
pills attending the public schools.
HOW TESTS
ARE APPLIED.
For the boys and girls in the first.
second and third grades in Indiana pub
lie schools the intelligence tests are
given in subjects TO bring out accuracy
in drawing lines in a series of dots so
that some definite object will be out
lined, next the tests are for ability to
classify objects, a third test to deter
mine their ability TO recognize various
forms of objects and the fourth is TO de-
termine their ability to recognize the alb
surdities in objects.
In the series Of dots test they trace
objects and then point out which one OF
the dots is 0at of place. There are
thirty sets of dots. each forming differ
ent objects and at the same time each set
has one dot out OF place. The children
are given about three minutes to trace
the thirty different objects.
Ninety different objects, groups in
squares Of three each. form the basis
for the classification test. In one square
there are two dogs and a cat. The pu-
Pill is asked to name the animals in the
square and put a cross through the ami
NAL which is not like the other two
in this instance il Is the cat. Another
square has three children. two girls and
a boy, and again the child must pick
out the child which is different from the
other two-the boy. Flowers. pets.
household articles, firearms. cooking
utensils. musical Instruments, garden
tools, insects, wearing apparel, animals.
and other objects with which the chill
dren of that age should be familiar are
grouped in the thirty squares. Three
minutes are allowed for this test.
USE TEST TO
PICK OUT ABSURDITIES.
For the form board test thirty squares
have from FIVE to seven objects, square.
circle. triangle, Octagon, rectangle cross
and other deviations of these principal
objects. The object Of the test is for
the children to fit the objects together.
and In each square a different object each
time will not fit in. The children must
cross out the object which does not fit
in with the other objects Three minutes
are allowed for this test.
To test the pupils ability to pick out
absurdities in objects the final test has
thirty objects which in one way or an
other contain such absurdities. One pic
-
another a glove with the button on the
back of the wrist, a teakettle. with two
spouts. an alarm clock with three hands.
a pistol with the trigger turned the
wrong way, a flag with the field in the
wrong corner, a post card with the
stamp in the wrong corner, a hand at
tempting to pound a nail with the nail
pulling end, a glove with two thumbs.
spectacles with three shafts, and other
similar objects. The pupils are given
three minutes to cross out the absurdi-
ties on the object.
Ny next article will deal with the read
ing test for the pupils of these grades.
Pupils taking the above tests are recorded
and the average rating ascertained. Those
who have rating above the average are
indicated as the students with high ma
tive ability and those under average are
then studied In effort to raise their ma
tive ability to at least average