448 ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



turns should be combined with measures of capacity in 

 school subjects to give a rather complete picture of the 

 students' learning capacity and learning habits. This 

 would mean a rearrangement and supplementation of 

 such tests as the National, Otis, Turman, and other 

 standard units now in general use. 



While it is assumed that established correlation of 

 abilities relieves the necessity for testing in minute de- 

 tail, it is hazardous to expect that a mere index number, 

 I. Q., mental age, or other similar device will ever take 

 the place of the picture which is presented through a 

 more complete analytical record. 



The making of anything approaching a satisfactory 

 record of learning and personal qualities would neces- 

 sitate the administration of a number of special abilities 

 tests either during the preliminary training period or 

 at the point of employment. As a matter of fact such 

 supplementary testing may be carried forward most 

 effectively just prior to and during the period of early 

 employment, especially in the case of employes inducted 

 through a well organized vestibule or other corporation 

 school. Such schools closely approximate conditions un- 

 der which work is to be performed and make possible 

 pointed measurement and effective observation. 



As employers become more and more interested in the 

 individual workers as a factor in the reduction of unit 

 costs of production, we come to be aware more keenly 

 of the specific factors which make for or against satis- 

 factory accomplishment. If jobs were few and well de- 

 fined the necessary analyses might be made promptly 

 and effectively. That the actual problem of analysis is 

 a difficult one is indicated by reference to the Federal 

 Census which catalogs occupations under 572 main head- 

 ings with some 12,000 subheadings. This widely dis- 

 tributed employment field, complicated as it is by the 

 lack of uniform terminology or classification, has led 

 many employers and some psychologists to despair of 

 helpful classification of job and corresponding employe 

 requirements and possibilities. Does effective employ- 

 ment service call for a complete catalog of these thou- 

 sands of jobs coupled with a corresponding catalog of 



