PSYCHOLOGY IN INDUSTRY 



Industrial Health Research Board. Repetitive work, as 

 such, is not necessarily productive of ennui, for monotony- 

 is inherent not in the work itself but in the task in relation 

 to the personality of the worker. Fortunately many ways 

 have been discovered to adjust employees to such tasks 

 and to help them to find therein those elements of interest 

 which add zest and satisfaction to what a casual observer 

 might consider stultifying monotony. 



Conclusion. A swiftly evolving industrial civilization 

 such as ours needs a well-laid scientific foundation for its 

 social engineering. Toward such a basis of knowledge 

 about the influences determining our conduct and our 

 feelings while at work, it has been the purpose of industrial 

 psychology to contribute. 



In this hasty glance over the field, we have noted out- 

 posts of research in factories, offices, and stores as well as 

 in universities and government bureaus. The weapons of 

 attack are the familiar ones of observation, measurement, 

 statistical analysis, and controlled experiment. Among the 

 trophies already captured, five which it has not here been 

 possible to treat at length must, in conclusion, at least be 

 mentioned : 



1 . Adult learning of specific knowledges and new skills 

 can be profitably continued far beyond the ages at which 

 common sense has usually called a halt. 



2. While it is obviously advisable to choose an occupa- 

 tion most closely corresponding to natural interests and 

 talents, nevertheless interests can be developed and many 

 grave handicaps of native endowment compensated for, 

 through special training. 



3. Effects of temperature, ventilation, lighting, and 

 other physical conditions under which work is done, 

 have been measured and found to be real determiners of 

 output and of morale, but far less potent than the personal 

 factor of supervision. Extra financial incentives, too, have 



[159] 



