200 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [Vol.xv, 



Section 5. — Examiner's guide for students' army training corps. 



[Prepared for the committee on education and special training, War Department.] 

 (a) INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. 



The instructions presented herewith are for the conduct of examination alpha, the intelligence test prepared 

 especially for literate men in the Army. With minor exceptions, the procedure is the same as that used with other 

 literate recruits. 



The purposes of the alpha examination in the Students Army Training Corps are: 



(a) To secure an objective rating of all students according to general intelligence, as an aid in their final classifi- 

 cation for service. 



(b) To acquaint prospective officers with the nature and value of the psychological ratings which are in general 

 use in the Army. 



(c) To aid in the educational guidance of students. 



(d) Where the examination can be given at the opening of a new term, to aid in the selection of candidates for 

 admission. 



When the examination can not be given as part of the entrance requirements, it should be given as early as 

 possible after the opening of a new term. The results, if promptly available, will be of value both in the educational 

 guidance of the students and in the evaluation of their work. 



In order to eliminate all possibility of coaching, the following precautions should be taken: 



(1) Different forms of the alpha examination booklet should be used in successive terms. In general, it will be 

 advisable not to use a given form more than once in a school year of four quarters. 



(2) The examinations in a given school should be completed in the shortest possible time. In the smaller schools 

 all the students may ordinarily be examined in the same half day, and in the larger schools in one or, at most, 

 two days. 



(3) The greatest care should be taken to prevent the dissemination of examination booklets. Before the men 

 are allowed to leave the room after an examination the number of booklets collected should be carefully checked 

 against the number distributed. Used blanks and blanks held in reserve should be safeguarded by the examiner 

 according to directions furnished by the regional director of psychological tests. 



The number of men who should be examined in a group will be determined largely by the available space. 

 Groups of 100 to 200 men are preferable, but under suitable conditions groups of 300 or 400 are readily handled. 

 Crowding, however, should be avoided. When circumstances will permit, the men should be assigned to alter- 

 nate seats. 



It is necessary that some kind of support be provided for the booklets. If there is no suitable room which is fitted 

 with desks, or with chairs having arm rests, then each student may be supplied with a book on which to rest the 

 examination blank during the examination. 



While discipline must be preserved throughout the examination, it is necessary that the men be made to feel at 

 ease. Statements which might cause apprehension or nervousness should be avoided. Generally speaking, little 

 should be said by the examiner beyond giving the directions for the separate tests. 



The procedure, as set forth in the following pages, should be adhered to rigidly. The directions should be given 

 in the exact words indicated. No supplementary instructions of any kind are permissible. The rule that no ques- 

 tions shall be asked should be strictly enforced. Each test should be timed with a stop watch and care should be 

 exercised to avoid error in timing. A few extra pencils, sharpened, should be at hand to supply men who need a new 

 one during the examination. Pencil, not pen, should be used in all cases. 



(b) PROCEDURE. 



[Here followed the prologue, which was substantially the same as that given on p. 157.] 



Test 1, oral directions. • 



[Instructions the same as in Examiner's Guide, second revision.] 



Test 2, arithmetical problems. 



"Attention! Read the directions at the top of the page and do what they tell you to do. I will say "Stop "at the 

 the end of 5 minutes. Do as many as you can in the time allowed. — Ready — GO! " 

 After 5 minutes, say ''STOP! Turn over the page to test 3." 



Test 3, practical judgment. 



"Attention! Read the directions at the top of the page and do what they tell you to do. — Ready — GO!" 

 After 1 minute and 40 seconds, say "STOP! Turn over the page to test 4." 



Test 4, synonym — antonym. 



"Attention! Read the directions at the top of the page and do what they tell you to do. — Ready— GO!" 

 After 1 minute and 40 seconds, say "STOP! Turn over the page to test 5." (Pause.) "Now you have to turn 

 your books around this way." (Examiner illustrates the necessary rotation.) 



