Vocational Psychology: Its Problems and MethodsHollingworth, Harry L. (Harry Levi)
Science
Vocational Psychology: Its Problems and Methods
Hollingworth, Harry L. (Harry Levi)
Psychophysiology
The nature of these Columbia tests and the method of recording and
reporting them are indicated in the forms which were printed and used for
this special purpose. (Samples of these are given in the Appendix.) They
are given here not so much for the sake of the enumeration of the tests,
since many of these are no longer in common use, but because of their
historic interests for vocational psychology and because of the general
plan outlined in them. In general this plan is that of accumulating
measurements of a large number of individuals and thus showing each one how
he compares with the normal or average, or where he stands in the general
curve of distribution of the members of the group. These tests were applied
to the same individuals on their entrance to and their graduation from
college, in order to indicate changes that might have been made during the
intervening period.
Especially interesting also are other blanks containing additional data,
such as age, health, physical characteristics, physiognomic features,
enumeration of stigmata, etc. In addition to the tests and measurements,
the examiner, both before and after the interview, recorded his general
impression of the individual, in the terms indicated on the blank form. We
shall have occasion to refer to these judgments of general impression in
more detail when we come to consider the use of the interview and the
testimonial in vocational psychology. Account was also taken of the
gymnasium records of the student, as to nationality, birth, parentage,
habits, health, etc.
The Columbia tests may be thought of as representative of several similar
projects developed in this country and in Germany, France and England by
many workers. The names of Galton, Cattell, Kraepelin, Binet, Henri, and
Jastrow stand out conspicuously in the early history of mental tests. The
first step was thus the invention, description and trial of a great number
of miscellaneous tests, with little analysis of the tests themselves, the
nature of the functions tested by them, or their relation to each other.
Aside from the strictly motor and physical tests those devised were mainly
of so-called intellectual character: measurements of speed and accuracy
with which certain definite tasks could be accomplished. They were,
moreover, very simple in character, not necessarily related to the work of
daily life, with only a single or but a few trials made on each individual.
Tests of affective and volitional factors were slower in developing. Little
account was taken of interests, instinctive and emotional characteristics,
attitudes, adaptation, methods of attack, limits of ability after practice,
or many other aspects of individuality which later work has shown to be
important.
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