Vocational Psychology: Its Problems and MethodsHollingworth, Harry L. (Harry Levi)
Science
Vocational Psychology: Its Problems and Methods
Hollingworth, Harry L. (Harry Levi)
Psychophysiology
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|Psych.|Log.|Hist.|Econ.|Eng.|Germ.|Chem.|Math.|Avge.
-----------+------+----+-----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+-----
Psychology | -- | .60| .36 | .52 | .48| .49 | .33 | .54 | .47
Logic | .60 | --| .48 | .57 | .47| .41 | .25 | .57 | .48
History | .36 | .54| -- | .44 | .62| .46 | .52 | .61 | .51
Economics | .52 | .57| .44 | -- | .51| .43 | .45 | .71 | .52
English | .48 | .47| .62 | .51 | -- | .25 | .26 | .46 | .44
German | .49 | .41| .46 | .43 | .25| -- | .39 | .38 | .40
Chemistry | .33 | .25| .52 | .45 | .26| .39 | -- | .57 | .40
Mathematics| .54 | .57| .61 | .71 | .46| .38 | .57 | -- | .55
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The correlations between the various college subjects are all positive, and
argue against the commonly expressed belief in rather close specialization
of abilities; the student who does well in one of these subjects tends to
do well in all of them.
As has been frequently stated in this discussion, the data and conclusions
here presented are by no means to be taken as final answers even to the
specific questions asked. One cannot argue from what these groups of
students do under the special conditions of this investigation to what they
or others will do in other circumstances or in general. The results are
presented mainly by way of suggesting the type of investigation which must
be carried much further before we are in position to evaluate properly the
self-analysis of an individual or the judgments of associates as presented
in testimonials, interviews, or other indications based on general
acquaintance. In the case of the psychological tests, a long program of
selection, standardization, and accumulation of norms is laid out for those
interested in the further advance of vocational psychology. So also from
the point of view of introspective analysis, consultation, advice of
friends, the methods of interview, testimonial, etc., there is an equally
inviting though arduous program which must be carried through before even
the most general principles of evaluation and selection are known.
It should also be insisted that the personal experience of this or that
interviewer, adviser, teacher or expert is by no means a sufficient basis
for general practice. Magic, clairvoyance, phrenology, physiognomics, were
all founded on the treacherous basis of "personal observation" and
occasional striking coincidence. Vocational psychology will be safe from
prophets and charlatans only when it is made to rest on a stable structure
of consistent and verifiable experimental data.
FOOTNOTES:
[9] See footnote on p. 42 for an explanation of the computation and meaning
of such measures of deviation or error.
[10] Experimental Studies in Judgment, Archives of Psychology, No. 29,
1913, 119 pp.
[11] "American Men of Science." Second edition, p. 542.
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