no.u PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. 175 



VIII. 



1. Ball and field. 



Present "round field" on record blank with gate facing subject and say, "Let us suppose that your baseball has been 

 lost in this round fiM. You have no idea what part of the field it is in. You don't know what direction it came from, how 

 it got there, nor with what force it came. All you know is that the ball is lost somewhere in the field. Now, take this pencil 

 and mark out a path to show me how you would hunt for the ball so as to be sure not to miss it. Begin at the gate and show me 

 what path you would take." If subject stops, say, "But suppose you have not found it yet, which direction would you go 

 next?" 



Credit in year VIII for "inferior" plan (or better); in years VIII and XII for "superior" plan. (See scoring 

 card.) 



2. Counting 20 to 1. 



Say, " You can count backwards, can you not? I want you to count backwards for me from 20 to 1 . Go ahead." If 

 subject counts 1-20 say "No; I want you to count backwards from 20 to 1, likethis: 20, 19, 18, and clear on down to 1. Now, 

 go ahead." Have subject try, even if he says he can'*, but do not prompt. 



Credit for counting from 20 to 1 within 40 seconds with not more than one error. Spontaneous corrections allowed. 



3. Comprehension. 



Say, " What's the thing for you to do — 



(a) " When you have broken something which belongs to someone else? 



(6) " When you are on your way to work and notice that you are in danger of being late? 



(c) " If someone hits you without meaning to do it? " 



Questions may be repeated once or twice, but form must not be changed. 



Credit if two or three responses are correct. (See book.) 



4. Finding likenesses — two things. 



Say, "lam going to name two things which are alike in some way, and I want you to tell me how they are alike." 

 (a) " Wood and coal — in what way are they alike? " If difference is given, say, "No; I want you to tell me how they are 

 alike. In what way are wood and coal alike? " 



(6) "In what way are an apple and a peach alike? " 



(c) "In what way are iron and silver alike?" 



(d) "In what way are a ship and an automobile alike? " 



Credit if any real likeness is given for two of the four pairs. (See book.) 



5. Definitions: superior to use. 



Ask, "What is a balloon?" Same for tiger, football, soldier. Do not comment on responses. May repeat questions. 

 Credit if two of four definitions better than use are given. 



6. Vocabulary. See pages 181-182. 

 Alt. 1. Naming six coins. 



Show nickel, penny, quarter, dime, silver dollar, and half-dollar, in order, asking, "What is that?" If answer is 

 "money," say, " Yes, but what do you call that piece of money?" 



Credit if all six coins are correctly named. Spontaneous corrections allowed. 

 Alt. 2. Writing from dictation. 



Give pen, ink, and paper, and say, "I want you to write something for me as nicely as you eon. Write these words: 

 'See the little boy.' Be sure to write it all: 'See the little boy.' " Do not dictate the words separately, nor give further 

 repetition. 



Credit if sentence is written without omission of word, and legibly enough to be easily recognized. Misspelling 

 disregarded if word is easily recognizable. (See scoring card.) 



IX. 



1. Giving the date. 



Ask in order, (a) "What day of the week is to-day?" (b) " What month is it? " (c) " What day of the month is it? " (d) 

 " What year is it? " If subject gives day of month for day of week, or vice versa, repeat question with suitable emphasis. 

 No other help. 



Credit if there is no error greater than three days in (c) and no error in (a), (6), and (d). Spontaneous correction 

 allowed. 



2. Arranging five weights. 



Place 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 gram weights before subject and say, "See these blocks. They all look alike, don't they? 

 But they are not alike. Some of them are heavy, some are not quite so heavy, and some are still lighter. No two weigh the 

 same. Now, I want you to find the heaviest one and place it here. Then find the one that is just a little lighter and put it 

 here. Then put the next lighter one here, and the next lighter one here, and the lightest of all at this end (pointing). Do you 

 understand? Remember now, that no two weights are the same. Find the heaviest one and put it here, and the next heaviest 

 here, and lighter, lighter, until you have the very lightest here. Ready, go ahead." Give second and, if necessary, third trial, 

 repeating instructions only if subject has used an absurd procedure. 



Credit for correct arrangement in two of three trials. 



