Vocational Psychology: Its Problems and MethodsHollingworth, Harry L. (Harry Levi)
Science
Vocational Psychology: Its Problems and Methods
Hollingworth, Harry L. (Harry Levi)
Psychophysiology
It is at once evident that the preliminary trial is by no means always a
measure of the final relative capacities of the individuals tested. The
average of all seven coefficients increases from .41 at the preliminary
trial to .92 at the one hundred and thirtieth trial. As the trials proceed
then, the relative positions of the thirteen individuals become more and
more definitely fixed, but in the beginning the indication is obscure. The
rate of this process, however, varies with the test, and to a considerable
degree. Adding shows changes in position which effect a correlation of .87
only after the twenty-fifth trial. Beyond this point there is little
change, the eightieth and one hundred and thirtieth trials correlating
equally well, and practically perfectly, with the final order. After
twenty-five trials, then, the final capacities of the individuals in the
adding test may be said to be indicated fairly accurately. Opposites, in
the fiftieth trial, yields a coefficient equal to that of addition in the
twenty-fifth trial, and by the eightieth trial the correlation may be said
to be complete. Only after fifty trials, then, can the test be said to
yield comparative measures which reflect the individual's final capacity in
this form of controlled association. In the case of tapping it is only at
the one hundred and thirtieth trial that the correlation with final
position exceeds .69.
These results may be easily comprehended by thinking of each test (as for
instance the tapping test) as a prolonged race, consisting of a large
number of heats (205 separate trials). All individuals begin with a running
start, their respective initial speeds depending on the momentum they have
acquired through a certain amount of previous practice, and on such
momentary ability and zeal as they possess at the time. But as the
succeeding "heats" or trials occur some individuals who were originally in
the lead begin to lose ground in relation to others who, though initially
slower, are now speeding up and overtaking the leaders. Still others may
retain their original relative positions to the end of the race. In the
table of coefficients, a correlation of 1.00 indicates that at that point
the ultimate relative positions of the contestants have at last become
established. The nearer the figure approaches zero the more uncertain are
the relative positions at the particular trial. To terminate the race at a
point where the correlation is low and to reward the contestants according
to the position they had reached at that point would be manifestly unfair
to those who were still speeding up and partial to those who were losing
ground.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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