Section 1. — Examiner's guide, first revision. 



EXAMINER'S GUIDE 



FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF RECRUITS. 



FIRST REVISION. 



[Prepared especially for military use by the Subcommittee on Methods of Examining Recruits appointed by the Psychology Committee of the 

 National Research Council. Revised by direction of the Surgeon General of the Army and printed by the Medical Department, U. S. A., 

 September, 1917.] 



INTRODUCTORY EXPLANATIONS. 



1. Object of the tests. — (a) To sift out those mental defectives who are not qualified for military service. (6) To 



discover men of superior ability for report to the commanding and company officers. These men should be 

 considered for non-commissioned officers or for tasks of special responsibility, (c) To discover men with 

 marked special skill. 



2. Plan of the xoork. 



(1) Literacy test: Time, 5 to 10 minutes; number, 50 to 80 men in a group. 



(2) Group intelligence examination a: Time, 40 to 50 minutes; number, 50 to 80 men in a group. 



(3) Group intelligence examination 6, for those who react slowly in (2) : Time, 40 to 50 minutes; number, 

 any number up to 80 in a group. 



(4) Group examination for skill: Time, 30 to 40 minutes; number, 10 to 25 men in a group. 



(5) Individual examination, for intelligence, skill, or both: Time, 30 to 60 minutes; number, 1 at a time. 

 A company will ordinarily be taken in three groups of not more than 80 men each. The order of procedure is as 



follows: 



(a) A group of not more than 80 men will report to the chief psychological examiner, at a room designated for ex- 

 aminations (1) and (2). 



(6) The literacy test is given, after which three or four assistants collect the literacy test blanks, look them over 

 quickly (this can be done in 5 minutes or less), and send those who have shown themselves illiterates directly to the 

 group examination for skill. The others remain for test (2). 



(c) Those making an unsatisfactory score in group intelligence examination a will report (the following afternoon 

 if possible) in groups of not more than 80, in designated room for group intelligence examination 6, which is a similar 

 test with extended time. 



(d) Individuals who have made a consistently low score in the group tests will report by appointment at individual 

 examining rooms. It is estimated that not over 3 to 5 per cent of the men will require individual examination. 



Summarizing: All men take (1), and either (2) or (4). Those who pass in (1), take (2) immediately. Those who 

 fail in (1), go directly to (4). Those who fail in (2), take (3), failing in (3), they take (4); failing in (4), they take (5). 

 Those who fail in (1) and (4) also take (5). 



3. Organization and routine. — The value of the work and the amount accomplished will depend largely upon the 

 efficient organization of routine procedure. The following are specially important: 



(1) Arrangements should insure the securing of men for group or individual testing without loss of time. 



(2) Test blanks should be scored as early as possible after a test is taken, so that individuals who fail may be sum- 

 moned promptly for additional examination. 



(3) The data for each individual should be transferred to the individual filing card at the earliest possible date 

 after his examinations are completed. 



LITERACY TEST. 



This is given to all men at the time they are assembled for group intelligence examination a, and precedes the lat- 

 ter. As soon as the men are seated (group of not more than 80), supply each with a literacy test blank (blank side up) 

 and a pencil. After the materials are distributed examiner says: "Turn over the paper. Read what it says, and do 

 what it tells you to do. Ask no questions. You will have 3 minutes." After 3 minutes the papers are collected and 

 quickly looked over by three or four assistants while the men remain seated. This should not require more than 3 to 

 5 minuteB. Those who have filled the blanks and have made few or no errors in line 3 should remain seated for group 

 intelligence examination a. Those who could not write or who have made many errors in lines 1 and 2 should be sent 

 at once to the group skill tests. 



Coaching is prevented by using literacy blanks A, B, C, and I) in miscellaneous order. 



GROUP INTELLIGENCE EXAMINATION a. 



This is taken by all who have passed the literacy test, and immediately after the illiterates have been transferred 

 to the group skill test. 



In giving the directions, speak rather slowly, distinctly, and with proper emphasis. Expect and demand perfect 

 order and prompt response to commands. Say: "This is an examination to assist in finding out what you are best 



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