Haggerty: The Ability to Read 



39 



size of type and page, context, temporary attitude of mind, general 

 language experience, etc. doubtless function here. But there is 

 such a thing as difficulty inherent in the word itself, a kind of 

 difficulty which varies from word to word, and which amid all 

 the contextual and subjective changes remains the same. Such 

 inherent difficulty may concern the size and form of the word, 

 purely material features, or it may concern the nature of the 

 idea represented. Evidently all of these variable features operate 

 to weight the scale values of words in one or another direction, 

 and the scale will tend to be adequate in the degree to which they 

 maintain for children being tested the same balance as existed 

 among the children from which the first returns were secured. 

 Where this balance is thrown too greatly out of joint the scale will 

 go to smash. 



It would seem possible to construct a scale in which many 

 of the variable features would be adequately accounted for. 

 This could not be done without lengthened and intricate experi- 

 mentations, and such investigation will doubtless follow the 

 awakened interest in the possibility of measuring educational 

 products. In the meantime, it seems worth while to use scales 

 formed on the plan of this scale. 



Extension of V ocabulary Scale 



In order to extend this scale and to provide duplicate scales 

 for further testing, ratings have been secured on a large number 

 of words for children in grades 3 to 8. The method of securing 

 these ratings was to test classes of children with printed words 

 after the fashion shown in the following test: 



TEST XV 



Below is a group of words. Look at each word. Think what it means. 

 If it means something to wear write the letter id under it. If it means some- 

 thing about government or courts write the letter g under it. If it means 

 something you see in a factory write the letter / under it. If it means some- 

 thing about travel write the letter t under it. 



Remember: w, for things to wear; 



g, for government or courts; 

 /, for things in factory ; 

 t, for travel. 



lathe, congress, hat, coat, legislate, court, shoes, machine, 

 senator, voyage, justice, hose, socks, iron, brass, judge, stocking, 

 copper, lawyer, overcoat, trial, sandals, engine, moccasin, bar, 



