SECTION J.— PSYCHOLOGY. 



THE NATURE OF SKILL. 



ADDRESS BY 



PROF. T. H. PEAR, M.A., B.Sc, 



PRESIDENT OF THE SECTION. 



Preparing the presidential address to a section in the British Association 

 offers special pleasures and perplexities. The subject may be partly 

 familiar to many, almost strange to others. Knowledge of this is apt to 

 produce in the writer an inner conflict. He tries to be clear to specialists 

 in his own subject and to those from other sections. Seeing the two 

 stools only too well he falls heavily between them. 



The present theme, ' The Nature of Skill,' is no exception. Most 

 persons recognise skill when they see it, yet the terms with which they 

 try to analyse it are often lamentably vague and incommunicable. 



The Concept of Skill. 



The word ' skill ' is used in many ways. It is therefore reasonable 

 ihat for scientific purposes its connotation shall be slightly limited. The 

 following is proposed as a definition : Skill is an integration of well-adjusted 

 performances. 



In such a terse statement all the words need explanation and illustra- 

 tion. First, it is useful to contrast skills which come within the range of 

 this definition with that type of adjustment which ij a collection of mere 

 habits. 



The qualification ' mere ' is important. Habit, in some recent writings, 

 has included virtues, vices, thought, will, ssnsory discrimination, art, 

 intelligence, routine, plasticity, and sensitive response. This is a con- 

 comitant (one hopes, not inevitable) of abandoning the word instinct. 



I would suggest that the outstanding feature of habit is its specificity. 

 The experimental work upon transfer of training has made a belief in 

 general habits untenable. 



The Definition of Habit. 



A habit may be defined as an acquired specific response to a specific 

 situation. As soon as we cease to respond specifically, or the situation 

 loses its specific character, our behaviour ceases to be habitual. 



Skill is dependent upon habit, but not completely. The present 

 suggestion is that, treating the term skill with respect, we should apply it 

 only to the higher types of well-adjusted performance. 



A Misuse of the Term ' Skilled.' 



It is undesirable to use the word ' skilled ' to denote, not the workers' 

 performance, but the potential work waiting to be done. I am aware that 



