OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 137 



underlie established military practice as well as the principles 

 on which the recent mental examinations and tests are based, 

 should be brought together In a course in the study of human 

 action for the S. A. T. C. and made available for all pros- 

 pective officers Including those who will spend only one quar- 

 ter year in college. That is the Idea of Course I. 



"It Is consequently recommended that the elementary 

 course in *the study of human action' be given in institutions 

 which have the necessary equipment, omitting as far as pos- 

 sible all questions of a purely speculative or theoretical nature 

 and concentrating on the relevant questions of applied psy- 

 chology. 



"While it Is desired to leave each instructor the greatest 

 freedom for personal initiative, it is recommended that read- 

 ing assignments, formal reports, and recitation discussions 

 be used rather than lectures, and that wherever practicable 

 concrete military problems be used for Illustration. 



"It is further recommended that in contrast with the 

 common plan of elementary courses in psychology, the emo- 

 tions and the will be emphasized Instead of the Intellectual 

 processes, and that the course be applied psychology rather 

 than systematic. 



"The subjects which are regarded as essential to such an 

 elementary course in human action may be outlined under 

 six sections. 



1. The general characteristics of personal action and the con- 



ditions of effective reaction to new situations. 



2. Individual differences and their military exploitation. 



3. The learning process. General characteristics of habit for- 



mation. Plasticity. Fluctuation. Improvement and 

 its limits. Fatigue. 



4. Motivation and morale. 



5. Principles of leadership. 



6. The sources and critical estimate of information. The 



psychology of observation and report." 

 An arrangement was further made that materials for a 

 fundamental course In human action as outlined above be 

 prepared and made available for teachers in the Students' 



