no.i.] PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. 163 



The -patterns for constructing cubes for test 2 should be drawn on heavy cardboard on a scale such that the constructed 

 model will appear to be made from 3-inch cubes. All cube edges, either real or imaginary, should be bordered in lines 

 J-inch thick painted with india ink. The models should be cut on the full lines and folded on the dotted lines as indi- 

 cated in the patterns furnished. For these cube models a sloping shelf should be so arranged that the perspective 

 from the center of the room will be the same as that of the models represented on the blackboard. 



Chalk, eraser, pointer, and a curtain for covering beta apparatus are also necessary. 



2. PROCEDURE. 



It is most important that examination beta be given in a genial manner. The subjects who take this examina- 

 tion sometimes sulk and refuse to work. Examiner and his assistants will find it necessary to fill out most of the 

 headings for the men before the examination begins. The time required for this preparatory work may be used to 

 advantage in making the men feel at ease. As the demonstration preparatory to each test requires some time, the 

 "pencils up" command is omitted in examination beta. The examiner's platform should be so high that he can readily 

 see whether or not the subjects are working. Great care should be taken to prevent the overanxious from beginning 

 work before the command "Go." 



Seating conditions should be such that subjects can not copy from one another and the rule that copying shall 

 not be allowed should be enforced strictly. The blackboard should at all times be kept clean so that the visual condi- 

 tions may be excellent and constant. The blackboard figures for test 1 should be exposed when the subjects enter 

 the examining room. As soon as a test has been demonstrated and the men have been told to go ahead, the blackboard should 

 be covered and kept covered until time is called. It should not be turned to the next test until the men have been ordered 

 to stop work on a given test. Care should be taken to have the physical conditions of examination reasonably uniform. 



With the exception of the brief introductory statements and a few orders, instructions are to be given throughout 

 by means of gestures instead of words. These gestures accompany the samples and demonstrations and should be 

 animated and emphatic. 



It is absolutely necessary that directions be followed closely and procedure kept uniform and definite. Varia- 

 ations of procedure are more likely to occur in beta than in alpha, and there is serious risk that if allowed they will 

 lessen the value of results. Examiner should especially guard against using more or fewer gestures or words for one 

 group than for another. Oral language should be rigidly limited to the words and phrases given in the procedure for 

 the different tests. 



Whether the men get the idea of the test and enter into it with the proper spirit will depend chiefly on the skill 

 with which the examiner, the demonstrator, and the orderlies carry out their respective parts. Examiner and demon- 

 strator especially should be selected with the greatest care. An examiner who succeeds admirably in giving alpha 

 may prove to be entirely unadapted for beta. Both examiner and demonstrator must be adept in the use of gesture 

 language. In the selection of a demonstrator the personnel office should be consulted . One camp has had great success 

 with a "window seller" as demonstrator. Actors should also be considered for the work. The orderlies should be able 

 to keep the subjects at work without antagonizing them and to keep them encouraged without actually helping them. 



The demonstrator should have the single task of doing before the group just what the group is later to do with the exami- 

 nation blanks. The blackboard is his beta blank. Before examination beta can be given satisfactorily the demon- 

 strator must be letter perfect in his part. Both examiner and demonstrator must be very careful to stand at the side 

 of the blackboard in order not to hide the drawings. 



As soon as the men of a group have been properly seated, pencils should be distributed and also examination blanks 

 with test 8 up. While this is being done examiner should say "Here are some papers. You must not open them or 

 turn them over until you are told to." Holding up beta blank, examiner continues: 



"In the place where it says name, write your name; print it if you can. (Pause.) Fill out the rest of the blank 

 about your age, schooling, etc., as well as you can. If you have any trouble we will help you." (The instructions 

 given under segregation may be used for filling out the beta blank.) Examiner should announce the group number 

 and see that it as well as the other necessary information is supplied. Before the examination proceeds each paper 

 should be inspected in order to make sure that it is satisfactorily completed. 



After the initial information has been obtained, examiner makes the following introductory remarks: 



"Attention. Watch this man (pointing to demonstrator). He (pointing to demonstrator again) is going to do here 

 (tapping blackboard with pointer), what you (pointing to different members of group) are to do on your papers (here 

 examiner points to several papers that lie before men in the group, picks up one, holds it next to the blackboard, 

 returns the paper, points to demonstrator and the blackboard in succession, then to the men and their papers). Ask 

 no questions. Wait till I say 'Go ahead!' " 



In general, when instructing the group to turn from test to test, examiner holds up a beta blank before group and 

 follows his own instructions as he gives them. As soon as he has turned to desired test or page he says, "This is test 

 X here; look! " (pointing to the page). 



To suggest to the group the necessity of working rapidly the demonstrator, after proceeding very deliberately 

 with the early samples of each test, hurries, as soon as he has worked out the last sample problem 



(1) to record his response as fast as he can, 



(2) then to catch examiner's eyes for approval, and, 



(3) finally, to slip away from blackboard, drawing curtain as he does so. 



