364 ANNALS NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



list of six simple words were used as stimuli. The subject was told 

 that he would be given a spelling test and he was led to believe that it 

 would be a real test in speed and accuracy of spelling. 



A practise test with digits was given for three successive times before 

 the real test began, to delude the subject as to the purpose of the ex- 

 periment. A dozen or more digits were pronounced at random so 

 rapidly that the subject could scarcely keep up in writing them. In 

 the midst of this series of digits the experimenter, without any warning,, 

 gave the signal for the subject to turn the page upon which he was writ- 

 ing, and continued to pronounce digits at the same speed. The subject 

 was told that the words would be given in the same manner, but not quite 

 so rapidly. The following words were then pronounced: angel, pickle,, 

 dirt, busy, onion, women. The last word was pronounced in such a 

 manner that another word was expected by the subject, but the signal, 

 "turn," was given instead, and the subject was told to write as many of 

 these words as he could remember, to place them in the order in which 

 they had been given, and to indicate by a line the place for each omitted 

 word. The time each individual required to reproduce the words was. 

 recorded by a stop-watch. 



After testing over 100 individuals the writer applied the test to groups 

 of college, normal-school and public-school subjects. Aside from imme- 

 diate reproduction, records were secured after various intervals, ranging 

 from y 2 hour to 3 months. In all such cases a practice test of rapid fold- 

 ing of papers was added. After the words were pronounced the papers- 

 were promptly collected and the experimenter left the room. The sub- 

 jects thought the work was ended, but at various times the experimenter 

 reappeared and asked for the reproduction. The time for all group repro- 

 duction was limited to 1% minutes.. 



The best results were secured immediately after presenting the stimuli. 

 Practically the same efficiency was shown for the reproduction after fr 

 hours as for that after y 2 hour. But there was a decided fall after 7 days 

 and a still greater fall after 3 months. 



No appreciable difference was shown in efficiency between the lower 

 grades and the college students for immediate reproduction; but after 

 various intervals there was a gradual decrease in efficiency with age. 



Of the 1,515 subjects, 757 females and 758 males, only 29 of the- 

 former and 18 of the latter reproduced the six words in exact order- 

 In all grades the females were markedly superior to the males, both 

 for the number of words remembered and for order. They had a higher 

 central tendency and were more variable than the males in the 5th, 6th, 

 7th, and 8th grades, while for the other groups the males were more- 

 variable. 



