Sheet, O'Connor Dexterity tests, Rehab. # 11
notes: label: Description
content: This is a score sheet for a test described in one contemporary newspaper as a “method for measuring the speed in an individual’s fingers.” It required a rectangular board with an array of holes, a set of pins that fit into the holes, and a set of tweezers. In one part of the test, the subject was asked to fit the pins into the holes as rapidly as possible, lifting them with fingers. In the other subjects lifted pins with a pair of tweezers. The test was developed by Johnson O’Connor (1891-1973) of General Electric and the Stevens Institute of Technology and Mildred Hines. It was initially used to test the dexterity of women shop workers.
label: Description
content: This single undated paper sheet is labeled “Rehab #11” which suggests that it was used as part of a rehabilitation program. The test was used in that context from at least the mid-1940s.
label: Description
content: Versions of the test are still sold today.
label: Description
content: Johnson O’Connor is better known for his “wiggly block” test. For an example of it, and biographical information, see MA.316372.09. On other tests he developed at General Electric see MA.316371.012.
label: Description
content: For two rehabilitation test score sheets that appear to be part of the same series, see 1989.0710.70 and 1989.0710.71.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: Bingham, Walter V., <I>Aptitudes and Aptitude Testing</I>, New York and London: Harper Brothers, 1942, pp. 281-284. At this time the test was distributed by the Stevens Institute of Technology.
label: Description
content: Hines, Mildred and O’Connor, Johnson, “A Measure of Finger Dexterity,” <I>Journal of Personnel Research</I>, 1926, 4, pp. 379-382.
label: Description
content: <I>Berkeley Daily Gazette</I>, February 26, 1926, p. 4.
label: Description
content: O’Connor, J. <I>Born That Way</I>, Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1928. Here the author acknowledged Mildred M. Hines, Caryl G. Howe, Francis L. Keane and Evelyn M. Gill as “my collaborators in these researches.” He discusses the development of a variety of tests, including both the finger and the tweezer form of the dexterity test.
label: Description
content: U.S. Federal Security Administration, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, ed. Salvadore G. DiMichael, <I>Vocational Rehabilitation of the Mentally Retarded</I>, 1950, pp. 153-154.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
label: Subject
content: Psychological Tests
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
label: See more items in
content: Science & Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of David Gold
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1989.0710.70
label: accession number
content: 1989.0710
label: catalog number
content: 1989.0710.70
objectType: label: Object Name
content: sheet
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 21.5 cm x 28 cm; 8 15/32 in x 11 1/32 in