24 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. ivol.xv, 



Section 6. — Recommendation for continuation and extension of psychological examining. 



Because of the importance of early decision as to the continuation of psychological service 

 in the Army, the chief of the Section of Psychology addressed to the Surgeon General immedi- 

 ately after official inspection of examining in two of the four cantonments in which it had 

 been authorized a letter requesting an early decision concerning the continuation of psycho- 

 logical work. It was forwarded by the Surgeon General with the following letter to The 



Adjutant General: 



December 7, 1917. 

 From: The Surgeon General U. S. Army. 

 To: The Adjutant General of the Army. 

 Subject: Continuance of psychological work. 



1. Inclosed with this communication is a report from Maj. Robert M. Yerkes, S. C, chief of the Section of Psy- 

 chology, Office of the Surgeon General, with reference to the psychological examinations which have been practically 

 completed at three of the National Army cantonments; also a copy of report by Col. Henry A Shaw, M. C, concerning 

 the examinations of one of the cantonments — Camp Lee, Va. 



2. The purpose of these tests as outlined by Maj. Yerkes is as follows: 

 (a) To aid in segregating and eliminating the mentally incompetent. 

 (6) To classify men according to their mental capacity. 



(c) To assist in selecting competent men for responsible positions. 



3. In the opinion of this office these reports indicate very definitely that the desired results have been achieved. 

 Scores of drafted men, mentally incompetent, have been identified by the psychological tests much earlier in their 

 military careers than would have otherwise occurred. The classification of men according to mental ability, as 

 determined by these examinations, has corresponded in general, in a very striking way with the estimates previously 

 made by officers familiar with them; and many instances could be mentioned where men selected for responsible 

 positions, solely on their psychological records, had fully justified that selection. 



4. The success of this work in a large series of observations, some 5,000 officers and 80,000 men, makes it reasonably 

 certain that similar results may be expected if the system were extended to include the entire enlisted and drafted 

 personnel and to all newly appointed officers. 



5. There appears to be no objection on the part of commanding officers to the prosecution of this work at divisional 

 cantonments on the ground that the time of the men is being unduly sacrificed, and I am of the opinion that these 

 examinations can be continued without just criticism whatsoever on this score. 



6. In view of these considerations I recommend that all company officers, all candidates for officers' training camps, 

 and all drafted and enlisted men be required to take the prescribed psychological tests. I recommend also that the work 

 be prosecuted by psychological examiners under the control of Maj. Yerkes, S. C, and at divisional camps under the 

 general direction of the division surgeon. I recommend further that the division commanders be directed to furnish 

 the necessary facilities for carrying out of this work. 



7. The extension of the examinations will involve considerable preliminary work on the part of the Section of 

 Psychology. I therefore request that a decision on this point be rendered as early as possible. 



For the Surgeon General : 



H. P. Birmingham, 

 Brigadier General, National Army. 



The matter was referred by The Adjutant General to the Chief of Staff and by the Chief 

 of Staff to the training committee of the War College Division of the General Staff for investi- 

 gation and report. In connection with the investigation conducted by this committee, Maj. 

 Yerkes appeared before the committee for a hearing and described at length the methods of 

 psychological examining, the results obtained, and the plans and purposes of the Surgeon 

 General's Office in connection with continuation and extension of the service. 



At the conclusion of this hearing the training commit'tee requested information concerning 

 the reactions of line officers to psychological examining. It was stated by Maj. Yerkes that 

 chief psychological examiners in the several cantonments had already been instructed to obtain 

 statements from company commanders to whom reports had been made of the psychological 

 ratings of their men. Maj. Yerkes further offered to request by telegram that the four chief 

 psychological examiners forward directly to the training committee of the War College the 

 responses of officers. The committee accepted this offer and appropriate telegrams were sent. 



Pending receipt of statements from company commanders and final decision of the training 

 committee concerning the extension of psychological work, Maj. Yerkes presented to the com- 

 mittee memoranda bearing on the residts and success of the examinations in the camps. He 



