466 ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OP SCIENCE 



tion secured will point out in advance of any interview 

 which may be found necessary or advisable, certain of 

 the outstanding problems to be approached and dealt 

 with, indicating the possible points of contact. The sav- 

 ing of time which accrue to both the interviewer and the 

 interviewed is no small item. Where provision is made 

 for periodic checking-up, — that is, giving opportunity for 

 the rater to record changed and additional points of view 

 from time to time, the self-analysis system falls heir to 

 the advantages of the cumulative record. 



One advantage of self-analysis which should not be 

 overlooked is its value as a test of ability and of cer- 

 tain educational essentials. It indicates the individual's 

 efficiency in meeting new situations. It could be inferred 

 with considerable reason that CASE No. I would fall 

 rather low on the mental scale for his group, while CASE 

 No. II probably would fall rather high on such scale. It 

 should be understood that all judgments based on self- 

 analysis results should be tentative and elastic. The gen- 

 eral tendency for records to be indicative of ability, how- 

 ever, is plain. 



In presenting the following general outline of content 

 for a self -analysis blank, no wide departure is made from 

 several blanks already in use. The chief purpose of the 

 present paper has been rather to raise certain questions 

 with respect to the form in Avhich essentials are present- 

 ed, to question certain methods of procedure in admini- 

 stration, and to emphasize certain good features already 

 employed by the more conservative and constructive en- 

 thusiasts of self-rating. Summaries on each general 

 item submitted embody the principles already set forth. 

 The following general divisions would seem essential 

 for a comprehensive self-analysis device for college 

 freshmen. With slight modifications they could be 

 adapted for any school or industrial level : 



1. Personal items, — age, sex, home address, school 

 address, etc. 



2. Family record, — nationality, religion, social, occu- 

 pational, financial. 



