320 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [vol. xv, 



On August 15 a joint conference of the Committee on Methods for the Psychological Exam- 

 ination of Recruits and the staffs of the various units which had conducted the unofficial trial 

 of the tests was called at Columbia University. 



Thorndike informally reported the findings of the statistical unit which had analyzed the 

 data of examination. These findings have been set forth briefly in the preceding pages. The 

 examiners present reported their impressions and suggested improvements in method. The 

 members of the conference agreed that the group method of examination had demonstrated 

 its usefulness. Thorndike pronounced it incomparably the best battery of group tests that had 

 ever been assembled. Examiners reported that it attracted and held the interest of the men, 

 and that groups of SO could be tested as easily as groups of 40. The methods of individual 

 examination were less fully reported upon, but the general opinion seemed to be that the tests 

 devised for this purpose would prove satisfactory after they had been further standardized. 



On recommendation of Thorndike provision was made for the supplementation of the group 

 method by (1) a literacy test (the Thorndike reading scale) to be used to eliminate from the group 

 test all men who were not literate enough to be fairly measured by a test involving printed 

 symbols; (2) a performance test (the Stenquist construction test) to be given to men who had 

 failed to pass the literacy test; (3) for those who passed the literacy test but who nevertheless 

 made low scores in the group intelligence test, it was provided that the latter be repeated with 

 greatly extended time. 



It was generally agreed that the proportion of soldiers who were too nearly illiterate to be 

 justly measured by the regular group test was so large that not all could be given an individual 

 examination. It was believed that many such recruits could be passed as satisfactory on the 

 basis of a group performance test, thus reducing considerably the necessary number of individual 

 examinations. On recommendation of Thorndike the Stenquist mechanical skill test was 

 accepted for this purpose. 



In view of the fact that the Stenquist test was very early abandoned, it should be stated 

 that the members of the conference were by no means certain that it was suited to the purpose. 

 It was adopted for trial because no other group performance test was available and time was 

 lacking for devising a new one. This decision seemed to make necessary some form of literacy 

 test which, by indicating at once those too illiterate to be rated by the regular group test, would 

 prevent needless duplication of examinations. Terman was designated to modify the Thorn- 

 dike reading scale (visual vocabulary scale) for this purpose. The modification was to involve 

 a reduction of the test to bring it within the necessary time limits. 



The purpose of repeating the group intelligence examination with extended time in the case 

 of men making low scores was to reduce still further the number of individual examinations. 

 It was believed that this would be accomplished both by the reduction of the probable error 

 and by the elimination of the speed factor. Thorndike suggested that the repeated examination 

 include all the tests except 1 and 2, and that the time allowance for each be approximately 

 doubled. Terman was designated to prepare the necessary directions. 



Section 2. — Group examination b. 



It will be recalled that examination b was merely the repetition, with extended time, of 

 tests 3 to 9, inclusive of examination o. It was thought that such repetition in the case of 

 all who scored below 100 points * (i. e., below C) in examination a was desirable for the following 

 reasons: (1) That it would give a fairer measure for men whose low scores in the first exami- 

 nation were due to slowness of reaction rather than to real inferiority of intelligence; (2) that 

 apart from the factor of speed, the repetition of the test would considerably reduce the probable 

 error of the score. 



It is unnecessary to consider at length the justification for these expectations. The 

 repeated test was very objectionable for practical reasons. From 11.5 per cent (Camp Devens) 

 to 31.8 per cent (Camp Lee) of those who took examination a fell below the score 100. To recall 

 so many men for an additional group examination disturbed the training program to such an 



' This score value is stated in terms of the revised method of scoring described on page 325. See also page 421. 



