156 VINNIE C. HICKS 



portrays all the details of this eliminative process and it approx- 

 imates the ideal of uniformity and regularity of descent. How- 

 ever, it is impracticable from the standpoint of recording and 

 manipulating the data. 



The prevalent practice of omitting all total and partial returns 

 from the error record and of making no attempt to evaluate 

 varying degrees of error gives a curve which is not only worth- 

 less but false. 



An error curve which includes returns and which is constructed 

 on the basis of regarding a small segment of the maze as the 

 unit of error constitutes a practicable substitute for the excel- 

 lencies of the total distance curve. 



Any curve which portrays but the one factor of distance 

 elimination is a poor representative of the learning process. 



Time is the best single criterion, inasmuch as it represents all 

 phases of the process of learning, and since it will yield the most 

 comparable results at the hands of different investigators. 



A combination curve constructed from the time and error 

 data is probably the most satisfactory for comparative purposes 

 provided the error record includes returns and a small segment 

 of the maze is taken as the unit of calculation. 



