io8

EMPLOYMENT  PSYCHOLOGY

specific  group  of  fundamental  requirements  such  as  those
outlined  above.  Each  one  represented  a  set  of  specifications ­
  drawn  up  for  the  purpose  of  guiding  the  employment
office  and  especially  the  psychological  examiner,  in  selecting ­
  the  proper  candidate  for  the  proper  place.
From  this  point  on,  tests  were  developed  and  applied  to
meet  these  specifications.  Some  of  these  tests  are  given
in  the  Appendix  under  titles  which,  in  the  light  of  this
analysis,  will  immediately  suggest  their  use.  The  filing
tests,  for  instance,  correspond  to  the  kinds  of  filing  designated ­
  in  the  descriptive  form.  Topical  filing  is  one  of  the
common  kinds  of  office  work.  Letters  have  to  be  filed
according  to  the  subjects  with  which  they  are  concerned,
and  to  determine  what  these  subjects  are  is  a  task  which
requires  a  certain  kind  of  intelligence  or  analytical  ability-The
  topical  filing  tests,  one  simple  and  the  other  more
difficult,  are  calculated  to  test  this  ability.  Alphabetical
filing  is  a  still  more  common  task  and  requires  ability  of
a  very  different  nature.  It  requires  a  certain  kind  of
mechanical  precision  rather  than  analytical  powers.  The
alphabetical  filing  test  is  calculated  to  give  an  index  to
this  ability.  A  still  better  test  for  this  purpose  is  to  give
the  subject  a  file  box,  with  a  certain  number  of  cards  containing ­
  names.  The  subject  is  requested  to  file  these
cards  under  the  proper  letters.  Other  tests  are  designed
to  detect  other  fundamental  abilities.  Such  tests  are
being  found  or  developed  from  time  to  time.
The  specifications  just  mentioned  are  standard  specifications ­
  for  standard  kinds  of  work.  However,  it  frequently ­
  happens  that  clerical  positions  are  to  be  filled
for  which  the  standard  specifications  at  hand  are  not  adequate. ­
  For  instance,  a  stenographer  may  be  desired  who
shall  possess,  in  addition  to  stenographic  ability,  ability