VI 
TESTING MEN ASSEMBLERS 
THE FIRST EXPERIMENT WITH MEN 
Up t 0 the time of this experiment nearly all tests 
a d been given to girls and on jobs which were handled 
a ^ m °st wholly by girls. The present experiment was con- 
ducted entirely among men. It was therefore an experi 
ment in a double sense: first, an experiment to determine 
ne value of certain tests; secondly, an experiment cal 
culated to show what could be done among men in a 
slt uation of this kind. 
The two largest gun-assembling shops served as the 
, e u for this experiment. It must be admitted that con- 
S'derable apprehens ion was felt as to the attitude which a 
^ lr S e body of shop men would adopt toward being taken 
° m their work into a mysterious-looking brown box— 
e portable laboratory which was set up for this purpose 
Was only a brown box to them—for a series of mysterious 
test s. However, as with the girls, a policy of entire frank- 
ness w as pursued from the very outset. As soon as the 
Portable laboratory had been set up—a process which im- 
rtle diately aroused the interest of the men—a notice was 
P°sted on it to this effect: 
The tests which will be given here are in the interests of the 
^Ployment office. Their purpose is to provide the employ- 
kj nt office with standards by which to select successful assem- 
ers ln the future. Your cooperation is requested.” 
69