Evening star., 1922-05-29
new CIVIL SERVICE
METHOD IS URGED
Bureau Of Efficiency sug.
gests Tests Be Less
Academic.

Clerical tests to bring out the Bpe-
cial abilities needed in q particular
line Of work. rather than mere aca-
demic examinations, arc urged ~ an
important civil service Improvement by
the unitsd States bureau Of edciency
in its report to President Harding and
Congress on the methods Of the Unit
ed States Civil Service Commission.
Herbert .. Brown, chief OF the bu-
reau Of eniciency, In transmitting this
sizes that the commission has done
better in its system OF examining
candidates for clerical positions than
In any other part Of its testing activi-
ties. Its work in this field, he says,
has for many years been pafnetaking
year and half 1t has begun to adopt
moro advanced, and up-to-d date meth
DDS.
Furthermore. he points out. It has
envisioned the clerical examination
as Q definite and dimcult problem
which requires for Its complete solu-
ton the Investigation and study Of
Of common sense and practical expe-
rience.
The bureau Of enciency has made,
Independently. . survey OF the possi-
bilities of the newer kinds OF tests.
particularly psychological and gener-
number of suggestions which 1t be-.
ieves bear upon the fundamental
difncuities Of the problem in hand
1t claims that the chief advantages Of
the new tests over older methods are
these:
scored in far less time than the old
fashioned examinations The new
tests are usually printed in q pam
phlet Of letter size. On each page 10
given series of questions, to which
the answers are entered by the COM
These answers are Of the yes" or
mo- right" or wrong" variety and
may be graded readily with the use
Of . stencil. For example. In giving
the old fashioned arithmetic exami-
or six involved examples. Under the
new form about twenty shorter prob
lems in arithmetic are set, all Of
which the candidate can answer In
the same time or less than he needed
to solve the five or six complicated
examples.
The questions are not necessarily
simpler. but they arc each Of them
briefer. It has been found. through
these briefer problems can be scored
in one-tenth Of the time that the
older arithmetic tests required.
the questions are Just
as dificult to answer and discrimi-
nate even more surely among the
CO.. The newer tests put less en-
phasis on text book education and
more on natural capacity. The older
scholastic examinations were copied
from sSseS 0eSa: sSa:. as osa
sons who had been out of school
'onger than those who were fresh
from their studies. Another advan-
taxe II the greater difficulty Of cram
mig 9ss rSs fSs the asv.r nsw tests ests' max. it DOS,
sib1e to dnd out more concerning the
mental equipment. both natural and
acquired, OF an applicant than the
older tests. In tho older elementary
the material was prac-
ticaliy confined to arithmetic. spelling.
and geography. The new tests use
all Of the old materials In different
form. and also introduce a vast num-
ber Of other elements designed to
test the various mental powers Of the
applicant. In fact, they permit the
use of almost any material that aids
In gauging the capacity Of the applt-
cant for the work to be performed.
1t Is possible, after making a Job
analysis Of the task, to design the
Test which FOCUSES On Iuo pot tiSuAdA
qualities needed, including sensory
Need Of AdaDtalnity.
The point which needs particular
emphasis. tho bureau Of efficiency
feels, is this: That the Civil Service
should use the methods
which have been worked out for the
newer examinations, but adapt these
methods closely to its own problems.
Evidence IL at hand that even q test
not especially designed for use by
the government Is as valuable in de-
tho qualifications OF can
didates as the examinations now
xiven by the Civil Service Commits
sion, the bureau of efficiency says IN
It's report to the President.
The Civil Service Commission is
making a serious mistake In attempt
lnR to apply to all Glasses Of so-called
clerical work an academic examine
tion," the report points out. 1t ex-
plains that for key-punch operators
at least, and presumably Tor many
other classes Of machine clerks, tho
civil service examination falls utterly
to select expert workers, and, indeed.
bars out many candidates who would
render efYicient service In such work.
''This outstanding defect in tho civil
service examinations" the report
'ds ono that can be reme-
died By changing the content aof the
examinations 20 that In every case
the special abilities needed in q par
kind Of work will really be
tested, and those applicants possess-
Ing those special abilities will be