Measure Your Mind: The Mentimeter and How to Use ItTrabue, Marion Rex
Science
Measure Your Mind: The Mentimeter and How to Use It
Trabue, Marion Rex
Educational tests and measurements; Intelligence tests; Psychological tests
The method of the Analogies test is known as the “controlled-association
method.” Two words are presented having a very definite relation to each
other. A third word is then presented, followed by a blank space upon
which the candidate is to write a fourth word which will have the same
relation to the third word as the second word has to the first. The
relation between the first two or key words in each element of the test
differs from the relation between the key words of the previous element,
resulting in a constant change in the problem to be solved, which
requires quick readjustments in the candidate’s thought processes. The
candidate must be intellectually alert to discover the true relation
between the key words, his mind must be well supplied by experience with
words and ideas associated with the third word, and then he must use
good judgment and discrimination in the selection of that word which has
the _proper_ relation to the third word. A slip at any of these points
will mean failure. The value of the present series as a test of
intelligence is greatly increased by the fact that there is a
progressive increase in the difficulty of the elements presented, so
that the _number_ of elements correctly supplied has a very definite
relation to the _difficulty_ of the tasks the candidate can do.
Because of its relation to intelligence, the Analogies test will be
found very useful in the classification of candidates for clerical and
administrative positions in industry. Any group of tests selected for
classifying such employees should contain a list of graded analogies
such as that here supplied. Unless a candidate makes a record of at
least fifteen correct responses out of a possible thirty in the three
minutes’ time allowed in the test, he should be studied very carefully
before being entrusted with a task where ideas and symbols must be
handled quickly. Such a man might be able to work with things and
people, but he will probably be found slow in his grasp of abstract
principles and ideas.
In the schoolroom, the Analogies test may be used with some confidence
in classifying pupils for instruction. If it is found that a pupil is
far below his grade in ability in this test, and if he is also found
below his grade in the Completion of Sentences and Number series, it may
be assumed that the pupil will probably not succeed in the abstract work
of the school. Such pupils should be sent to the clinical psychologist
for special study, and a special type of training should be prescribed
upon the basis of the psychologist’s diagnosis. In the same manner,
pupils unusually brilliant in the handling of abstractions may be
located through the use of this and other tests of this nature.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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