OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 147 



The principal subjects of this report are: psychological 

 problems of morale, the aviation service, reconstruction, 

 shell-shock, and camouflage. In each of these subjects Lang- 

 feld made interesting and important observations upon which 

 he bases suggestions for practical service. Thus, for example, 

 in connection with camouflage work, he states that one of the 

 most interesting problems, with important psychological as- 

 pects is the camouflage of motion, especially in relation to 

 aeroplanes. He further reports that the assistance of psy- 

 chologists was greatly desired by the officers engaged in cam- 

 ouflage. 



Had the war continued, Langfeld's observation of condi- 

 tions and his suggestions would undoubtedly have led to im- 

 portant developments of psychological service overseas. 



In the summer of 191 8 an American psychologist who had 

 observed conditions in Paris reported to the Psychology Com- 

 mittee that assistance might, in his judgment, be rendered 

 the Y. M. C. A. in selecting suitable personnel for service 

 overseas. The facts gathered by this observer were trans- 

 mitted to the Office of the Secretary of War and as a result 

 of careful consideration of the matter, the Y. M. C. A., in 

 October, 1918, introduced the army mental tests (Group 

 Examination Alpha) in all of its special training schools as a 

 supplementary means of eliminating undesirable applicants. 

 The Medical Department of the Army cooperated with these 

 training schools by supplying the necessary materials for 

 examinations and such standards of judgment and other in- 

 formation as might prove of assistance to the examining of- 

 ficers. 



This work was instituted at such a late date that results 

 of statistical value could not be obtained. Psychological ex- 

 aminers in the army were able, however, to render assistance 

 to the Y. M. C. A. in training camps and also in a few of the 

 special Y. M. C. A. training schools. Arrangements had 

 been made by the New York headquarters of the Y. M. C. A. 

 for the conduct of psychological examination of candidates 

 for overseas service by Robert S. Woodworth of Columbia 

 University. Approximately five hundred examinations had 

 been made before the armistice cut short this work. 



