April 1, 



•] 



SCIENCE. 



451 



experimenting with discs constructed so as 

 to show the same intensity over the whole 

 disc, the same color-tone and a gradual 

 transition from the full color-tone to gray ; 

 thus isolating saturation changes. 



The following papers of an experimental 

 character were read by title : ' Time Meas- 

 urements of Visual After-Images,' by S. I. 

 Franz ; ' Class Experiments,' by A. Kirsch- 

 mann ; ' Recent Discussion of Color 

 Theory,' by Mrs. Christine Ladd Franklin ; 

 ' Experiment in the Psychology of Percep- 

 tion,' by Brother Chrysostom. 

 ■ The discussion on ' Invention ' was led 

 by Professors Eoyee and Jastrow and Dr. 

 Urban, while Professor Baldwin's presiden- 

 tial address on the related topic, ' Selective 

 Thinking, ' which he was unfortunately pre- 

 vented from reading, was in printed form 

 and in the hands of the members for refer- 

 ence. 



Professor Baldwin's paper discussed the 

 material of selective thinking, the function 

 of selection (how certain variations are 

 singled out for survival), the criteria of 

 selection (what variations are singled out 

 for survival) and certain resulting interpre- 

 tations, treating the problem of race evolu- 

 tion in the light of the author's well known 

 theory of ' organic ' selection. 



Professor Royce took up the subject of 

 ' The Psychology of Invention ' and after 

 deiining the problem and, analyzing the 

 general conditions which favor inventive- 

 ness, presented interesting results of ex- 

 periments devised to encourage in simple 

 form individuality and inventiveness. The 

 method chosen was the drawing by the sub- 

 jects of figures or combinations of curves 

 and straight lines under varying experi- 

 mental conditions. This paper, as well as 

 Professor Baldwin's, has been published in 

 full in Hie Psychological Review. 



Professor Jastrow followed with a paper 

 treating the problem from the point of view 

 of anthropology, and Dr. Urban discussed at 



some length the limits of the ' Application 

 of the Utility-Selection Hypothesis to Men- 

 tal Phenomena.' 



Two years ago a Committee of the As- 

 sociation was appointed to inquire into the 

 subject of physical and mental tests and to 

 agree, if possible, upon a series of such tests 

 suitable for use with the undergraduates of 

 our universities. This Committee is still 

 at work and in connection with its report 

 this year a discussion was held, opened by 

 Professor Jastrow, with a paper on ' Popu- 

 lar Tests of Mental Capacity.' The speaker 

 took up first the selection of the capacities 

 to be tested and the practical methods of 

 testing them, emphasizing the importance 

 of devising specific typical tests rather than 

 general ones and of obtaining information 

 regarding a single or a very limited group 

 of powers, the advantages of which in the 

 interpretation of results are obvious enough. 

 He then discussed in turn treatment of the 

 senses, the motor capacities and the more 

 complex mental processes. 



Professor Baldwin spoke brieflj% laying 

 particular stress upon the importance of 

 memory tests,and Professor Cattell, as Chair- 

 man, discussed the report of the Committee 

 embodying the results of its work thus far 

 and recommending that a series of tests 

 which can be made upon one subject in one 

 hour be made as far as possible in all 

 psj'chological laboratories, that a variety of 

 tests and methods be tried and the results 

 reported to the Committee. This Commit- 

 tee, consisting of Professors Cattell, Baldwin, 

 Jastrow, Sanford and Witmer was con- 

 tinued and an appropriation made from the 

 funds of the Association for carrying on its 

 work. 



The following papers were also presented 

 at the meeting : ' The Place of Experi- 

 mental Psychology in the Undergraduate 

 Course,' by Professor F. C. French ; ' Con- 

 cept of Sensation,' by Dr. E. A. Singer, Jr.; 

 ' The Intellectual Content in Dream Con- 



