352 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE. 



Psychological Observations. 

 Instructions to the Observer. 



Mental characters are named, numbered, and briefly defined in this 

 slieet of instructions. 



The accompanying card bears a corresponding number of numbered 

 spaces. 



The observer should put the name of one subject (child, ifec.) at the 

 head of each cai-d, and then put in the space opposite each number one of 

 the letters A, B, C, D, or E. 



These letters imply the following opinion on the part of the observer 

 in respect to the mental characters of corresponding numbers : — 



C is to be used to imply an average degree of development, intensity, 

 or strength of the character in question. 



B, a degree of development distinctly above the average. 



D, a degree of development distinctly below average. 

 A, very exceptional degree of development. 



E, very marked deficiency of the character. 



An average degree of development is to be taken to mean such as 

 would be exhibited by about 50 per cent, of any large number of normal 

 subjects (children, itc.) of the same race or class, this nO per cent, group 

 being made up of those who in respect to this character are nearest the 

 mean. 



Classes B and D should contain about 20 per cent, each of any large 

 number of normal subjects. 



Classes A and E, about b per cent, each.^ 



The observer should fill in on each subject card only those characters 

 in regard to which he feels able to express a confident opinion, and should 

 leave all other spaces blank. 



The words in popular usage by which mental characters are described 

 are in many cases of a negative character. In the following list such 

 words have been avoided and positive characters only are named ; e g. 

 selfishness does not appear, because a high degree of selfishnes.s is the same 

 character as a low degree of generosity, and may be expressed by putting 

 the letter E after the corresponding number. 



Many of the words in popular usage express characters which are ex- 

 tremely complex resultants of a number of more elementary characters 

 [e.g. intelligence) ; such words have been avoided as far as possible, and 

 the characters named below have been chosen as being relatively simple 

 and elementary. 



List of Mental Characters. 



1. Accuracy and fulness of sense-perception (i.e. power of ' observation 

 in general). 



2. ' Quickness' of apprehension in general. 



' It maybe helpful to explain the foregoing in other words, tlius : Suppose an 

 array of 100 normal children arranged in order of the intensity or strength of 

 the char<acter in question, No. 1 being the highest and No. 100 the lowest, the Nos. 

 1-5 rank as A ; 6-25 as B ; 26-75 as C ; 7G- 9.5 as D ; 96-100 as B. 



It is desirable that a separate description should be given of e.ach character in the 

 tnidway or average child in each class or school, with a vieW to comparison with the 

 average in other classes and schools,- -iSecretarj/'s note, 



