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



Those failing to make a satisfactory score on the literacy test were given the group skill 

 test (Stenquist). Men failing in any of the above tests were called back and given individual 

 examinations. The tests provided for this individual examination are given in detail in the 

 first revision of the Examiner's Guide. (See pp. 123, ff.) Stanford-Binet, Point Scale, and Pint- 

 ner-Paterson materials were not supplied examiners and were not authorized parts of the army 

 intelligence examinations at this time. The original plan also contemplated recalling men of 

 superior ability for individual examination. Time and opportunity to develop this portion 

 of the general method were not offered during 1917. 



Section 4. — Segregation of various grades of illiterates. 



The most frequent and insistent objection to psychological examining rested on the inter- 

 ference with training programs. It was readily and early demonstrated by the psychological 

 staffs that the group examining calling one thousand to two thousand men a day interfered very 

 httle with this training of troops. It was never successfully shown, however, that the contin- 

 ued recalls necessary to give examination b, the group skill test, and individual examinations 

 were so essential that repeated interference with company maneuvers should be permitted. 

 The Devens staff succeeded in recalling one or two groups a week for examination b and gave 

 practically all the individual examinations indicated. The other three camps departed widely 

 from the original program of examining. Such changes as were made in the four camps were 

 all planned to reduce the time necessary to report a score for each recruit and to make final 

 recommendation on illiterate and low-grade cases. 



Three phases of the segregation problem resulted. The original literacy test that consti- 

 tuted a part of the fall examining program was expected to provide a means for the segregation 

 of literates and nonhterates, and also a literacy grading for all semiliterates and literates. 

 The urgent necessity for rapid handling of groups and avoidance of recalls emphasized the need 

 for a brief segregation test. The probability that many who passed this test still failed to do 

 themselves justice in examination a because of limited reading knowledge suggested the advisa- 

 bility of giving a literacy grade along with the score. The third consideration was based on the 

 conviction that men unable to write then own letters, to read the newspapers, or unable to make 

 a score in examination a indicating their level of ability because of illiteracy, should be credited 

 only with the score that their combined literacy and intelligence levels produced; that is, the 

 additional literacy rating was not necessary for Army purposes, except in those cases where 

 inability to read English resulted in no score or an extremely low one. 



The Devens staff made extensive investigations to establish a more definite literacy grading 

 for all recruits than that afforded by the original test. At the same time they desired to make 

 it so that by rapid inspection proper segregation would also be provided. The Camp Dix staff 

 selected the dictation method primarily to provide for rapid segregation. Lee and Taylor 

 aiming at segregation only, used reading ability as determined by questioning and supplemented 

 this by inspection of attempts made on examination a. These three camps, therefore, ceased 

 using the literacy test early in the examining program. No careful check was made during 

 the fall to determine the actual difference in standards as used in the four camps. Ap- 

 proximately fifth to sixth grade literacy was used at Camp Devens. The methods in use 

 at the other camps are indicated below; 1 they probably segregate at about fourth grade 

 literacy. 



The task of separating the illiterate and semi-literate from the literate was recognized 

 previous to the fall examining in the Army. It had been shown conclusively that a large per- 

 centage of men, especially in National Guard camps, could not do themselves justice in exami- 

 nation a on account of inability to read. A literacy test adapted from the Thorndike 

 Reading Scale to be given previous to examination a was prepared and sent out as a part of the 

 equipment of each staff. Its origin and a description of the test are given on page 347 of this 

 volume. Instructions to examiners stated that this test, in addition to segregating the two 

 groups, would give a grading on literacy for those making a score on the test. These scores, 



i See page 473. 



