348 ANNALS NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



The material used consisted of numerals, nonsense syllables and 

 words. Series composed of 12 and 16 characters of each material were 

 used in testing both senses. 



The result shows that when series of 12 numerals similarly con- 

 structed were presented to the two senses, that out of 26 cases 20 are 

 visual, 8 auditory and 8 show no difference. In the case of the series 

 of 16 numerals, 19 visual, 4 auditory and 13 show no difference. With 

 12 nonsense syllables there are 15 visual and 15 auditory, the rest show- 

 ing no difference, but for 16 nonsense syllables, 25 visual, 7 auditory 

 and 4 show no difference. With the 12 words there are 14 visual, 10 

 auditory and 12 no difference; with 16 numerals, 22 visual, 9 auditory 

 and 5 show no difference. 



For each repetition of each series the result shows that in the mem- 

 ory tests for visual reproduction the greater average number is repro- 

 duced. The nonsense syllables were the best material, as they offered 

 few combinations or devices for memorizing them. 



Experiments, in which stories of 100 words each have been used to 

 test the two senses, have been carried on for some time. The two senses 

 have been tested for both immediate and delayed recall. In both the 

 immediate and the delayed reproductions the visual has been better than 

 the auditory. There is an experiment now in operation in which the 

 method is somewhat different from that in the former experiments con- 

 ducted with logical material. While the results are not all deter- 

 mined the indications are that the auditory may surpass the visual. 



Dr. Goddard said in abstract : It is not the purpose at the present 

 time to present any results, but rather to make some suggestions and 

 point out possible lines of research in the hereditary transmission of 

 mental traits which may be of interest to psychologists. 



In connection with our studies of the cause of mental deficiency at the 

 training school at Vineland, much material has been accumulated show- 

 ing the hereditary transmission of deficiency. In connection with these 

 data many facts have come to hand which make it clear that not only 

 deficiency, but many positive traits are directly transmitted. It is fur- 

 ther suggested that psychology would gain valuable data and contribu- 

 tions to many of its problems from a study of this question of heredity. 

 Indeed, it seems quite possible that many problems which are now so 

 complex as to elude our powers of analogy would be easily analyzed if 

 we were able to study the heredity problem and thus eliminate the 

 hereditary factor. For example, if the^ goodness of memory depends, as 

 Professor James said, upon the natural retentiveness of the brain tissue 

 plus the logical association that the individual establishes, then we may 



