292 LINUS WARD KLINE 



B. The learning curves 



1. Attitudes, hindrances, devices in learning. It was under- 

 stood from the outset that the purposes of the experiment re- 

 quired the subject's best effort at all times; but no suggestion 

 was made that competition should be practised. Fairly definite 

 attitudes were taken, however, toward the matter from the 

 beginning. Some regarded it as "good fun," a game of friendly 

 contest and maintained that position throughout. A few ap- 

 peared indifferent at first and even mildly disturbed when ques- 

 tioned as to the feeling tone accompanying poor or good records. 

 This attitude was observed with some care and seemed to mutate 

 as follows: 



a. Indifferent, may even mildly resent imputation of trying to- 

 make a record. 



6. Wonders how the present record compares with a previous 

 one. 



c. Wishes to know progress from trial to trial. (Did not show 

 records lest it might affect speed.) 



d. Inquires about the records of other subjects! 



c. Feels elated or disappointed according to the character of 

 the record. 



Hindrances aside from those encountered in the distribution 

 consisted in faulty adjustment of the body before the case, the 

 failure to stand squarely on both feet, a clumsy use of hands 

 and fingers and moving the body from the hips as a pivot. 



Some of the more useful devices consisted in moving the body 

 from the soles of the feet as pivots, rising on tip-toe with increase 

 of speed, an advantageous use of the left thumb in feeding the 

 cards to the right hand, keeping the eye just ahead of the 

 distribution. 



2. Characteristics of the learning curves. The curves are con- 

 structed from the results given in Table I. The number of the 

 practice period is shown on the horizontal line and the time 

 required in seconds and fractions thereof to deliver a single card 

 is recorded on the vertical. 



The graphs show three distinct sections for the most part: 

 (1) A section of maximum gains, comparable to the usual initial 



