Evening journal., 1922-05-04
BY JOSEPH HOLMES, NJ. A.
Psychological Research Laboratory,
Columbia University.
Copyright. 1922, NEA service)

| (Copyright, 1922, NEA Service)
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NeV
York, May 2.-For the first tim
psychological tests have been EN-
ployed to determine a mans fitnes
for the prize ring.
The subject of these tests, whic'
q have just made for NEA Service
was Harry Wills, who is a leadin
colored heavyweight pugilist an
who is leading colored heavy
weight pugilist and who Is seeking
title bout with Jack Dempsey.
The tests given to Wills were o
three kinds namely; tests OF motto
ability, tests Of perception and test
of the higher mental processes. Th'
first two kinds of tests are thos'
which are practically uninfiuenceC
by education and are dlagnostic o
the particular abilities which are o.
greatest significance in his work al
a pugilist.
The norms or standards or aver
ages with which he Is compared
were gotten by testing college stu
dents who comprised a highly Sc
lected group. Since Wills educa-
ton is very limited, having gone
only as far as the sixth grade, the
results OF the tests dependent on de-
gree OF education should be dis
counted considerably.
Motor Tests.
The motor tests with the results
and their significance are as follows;
Tapping Test-Score, 470. Aver
age, 376. Wills score is not only
far superior to the average but Is
equal TO the highest score made by
any college student.
Coordination Test-Score. 1870.
Average, SO. This score is one-half
again as great as the average and
exceeds the highest score OF college
students by many points.
Steadiness Test-This test consist
ed OF holding stylus in small holes
in metal plate so that the stylus
did not touch the sides. When the
sides of the holes were touched an
electric counter recorded. There
were FIVE holes decreasing in size
from 1884 TO 7-64 OF an inch in d.
ameter. The number of touches re-
corded was, for the first two holes 0,
for the third 8. for the fourth IS,
and for the last and smallest hole
2s. This record is so far above the
range of college students or people
in general that we can oily say that
Il is very superior and indicates
phenomenal degree of nervous and
control.
Reaction Time TO Light-Wills'
average time Of so trials was .169
second, which is faster than the av-
erage time OF college students, which
is $50 second.
Reaction Time TO sound-Wills'
average for so trials was .140 sec
ond. The average is .150 second.
Tests of Perception.
Tests OF Visual Perception. dots
with the tachistoscope. Score. 13.
s. This indicates a keen
ness OF visual perception that is
nearly twice the average.
Form Board Test-score, 1s. Av-
rage. 1S.
The reaction time tests and the CO.
test are also indicative of
leenness OF perception.
Tests of Higher Processes.
Substitution Test - Score, 169. |
Average. 25S. His score is 2-S OIL
he average, 1. e., he is below aver |
Lge in this test.
Color Naming Test;-Score, 20. |
average. Sc. He is below average |
lere. being in the poorest quarter OF
ollege students.
Number Checking Test:-Score,
7. Average. 1OS. Here he is also
n the poorest fourth OF college stu
ents.
Directions Test;-Score. 1874. Av-
rage, 90. This score is 1-2 the av-
rage. placing him in the lowest
,urth OF college students.
Language Test:-Score, 10. Aver
ge. "a. Here his score Is about 1-2
he average.
These last tests involve language,
nd success in them is greatly de-
endent on education. Therefore
1ese must be greatly discounted In
ne case OF Wills, who undoubtedly
as greater innate ability than these
ests indicate. His real ability IS
airly shown by the tests first listed.
Summed up, these tests show;
That wills eyes and ears function
more rapidly than those OF the aver
ageeman.
That his brain records sensations
and transmits orders to the muscles
much faster than that OF the ordi-
nary man.
That the coordination Of eye.
brain. nerves and muscles is nearly
perfect.
In word, Wills has natural ply
steal and mental powers which
place him far above the ordinary
man. and should prove a dangerous
for Dempsey.
QAM CTQDC ALL