WHAT PSYCHOLOGY CONTRIBUTED 373 



were based upon more or less satisfactory evidences of practical 

 usefulness. 



Following the official trial of psychological methods in four 

 National Army cantonments during the fall of 1917, the 

 opinions of officers concerning the value of the results was 

 sought and it was found that nearly 75 per cent, were favorable 

 to the continuance of the service. Somewhat more than a year 

 later similar inquiries in many divisional training camps indi- 

 cated that this percentage had increased to 90. Of thirty 

 statements received from commanding officers of camps or 

 divisions twenty-seven were definitely favorable and many of 

 them exhibited keen interest in the work and a desire to further 

 its development. 



The following statements, chosen almost at random, are 

 representative : 



The psychological work done and being done by Captain 



in this camp has been consistently good and has proven of much 

 practical value. 



At first, due to the innate conservatism of line and even medical 

 officers, his task was a rather uphill one ; but now, largely due to 

 his own energy and tact, and to the thoroughness and honesty of 

 his work, practically all officers here have been convinced of its 

 practical value and unique assistance in rating, sorting, and dis- 

 posing of the divers kinds of men as well as officers who pass 

 through such a camp. 



In addition to his ordinary duties of testing and rating the 

 personnel of organizations, he has been employed in making 

 numerous special examinations, where the handling and disposi- 

 tion of men whose cases involved obscurities of mental and physical 

 peculiarity or weakness were in question. The lucid solving of 

 such human problems by the methods of his peculiar art and his 

 personal acuteness and persistence have often relieved such per- 

 plexities. 



I consider such an expert and his specialty among the most use- 

 ful aids lately given the army toward the scientific and non-waste- 

 ful utilization of man power. 



