632 VITALITY AND EFFICIENCY WITH RESTRICTED DIET. 



four dates of Squad A show an even level of about 70 seconds, approxi- 

 mately the same as that for Squad B and somewhat less than the average 

 for the third trial of the normal series of 1917, i. e., 90 seconds.^ It is 

 of course impossible to predict what the result with the group of 67 

 men would have been had they taken the test the same number of 

 times in experiments separated by the same time intervals as those for 

 Squads A and B, but considering the fact that the two squads show 

 results which are comparable and which in the initial trials compare 

 favorably with those for the larger group of 1917, and furthermore, 

 considering that the two squads show practice of about the same rate 

 and finally reach the same level, it seems reasonable to conclude that 

 in this task of learning to follow a certain pattern and to coordinate 

 correctly a certain series of movements in so doing, the food reduction 

 did not definitely hinder or reduce the ability to improve. 



(17) EFFICIENCY IN PERFORMING CERTAIN CLERICAL TASKS. 



The ''Wells Clerical Test C" which we employed is divided into 6 

 parts (see fig. 56). A total score of 100 points was allowed for a per- 

 fect completion of all 6 tasks which composed the test. Each task was 

 assigned a possible score of 18 points with the exception of number 5, 

 to which 10 points were allowed. In any clerical work accuracy is 

 of prime importance, hence it was given first place here. The scale 

 of demerits adopted for mistakes and erasures is arbitrary and may 

 be considered excessive. We followed essentially the methods used 

 by Dr. Wells, who devised the blank and called it to our attention 

 in connection with this investigation. Task No. 1 was composed of 

 20 constant increment additions. If completed without error, the 

 score allowed was 18 points. For each mistake 6 points were de- 

 ducted; three or more errors therefore meant a score of 0.^ Task 

 No. 2 consisted of two problems in long division; the result was al- 

 ways a whole number. For correct results, 9 points were allowed 

 with each problem; an incorrect result received no credit. In Task 

 No. 3 a group of 10 four or five-figure numbers had to be arranged in 



*In the normal series of 1917, there were only 61 records for time in the third trial. The cases 

 omitted were those in which an abnormally long time had been required for the first and second 

 trials. The subjects were somewhat discouraged and did not care to proceed with another 

 trial, and furthermore an abnormally large amount of time had already been consumed with 

 the measurement. In the normal tests of 1917 the maze was placed last with a part of the men, 

 BO that if the subject became discouraged in this task this feeling would not affect prominently 

 results with subsequent measurements. The change to the last measurement in the program 

 for the normal series of 1917 was first made with subject No. 35. Previous to that it had been 

 given before the memory-saving, eye-reaction, and eye-movement tests. In the present research 

 it could not well be the last test with each subject. It was unlikely, however, that this was of 

 any particular importance, except in the case of Mon, who repeatedly failed to complete it 

 perhaps because of an attitude formed at the first time, September 29, when he spent so long on 

 it and still failed. This repeated failure in the maze worried the subject. He more than once 

 remarked that everything was all right except the maze. 



^A score of less than was never given in any of the 6 tests of which the blank was composed, 

 t. e., if a subject made more than 3 errors in one task, nothing on this account was deducted 

 from the score in other parts of the test. 



