XIV
THE  TECHNIQUE  OF  GIVING  TESTS
Psychology,  like  every  other  science,  has  a  distinct
technique.  This  technique  consists  of  certain  well-defined
and  accurate  methods  of  procedure.  Giving  tests,  for
instance,  seems  comparatively  simple  to  one  who  is  not
familiar  with  the  methods  of  psychology.  However,
there  are  minute  details  to  consider  and  directions  to
follow  of  which  the  untrained  individual  has  no  conception. ­
  The  technique  of  giving  tests,  like  the  technique  of
the  physician  and  chemist,  can  be  acquired  in  its  completeness ­
  only  by  careful  study  and  continued  practice.
An  error  in  method,  so  slight  as  to  entirely  escape  the
uninitiate,  is  likely  to  render  the  results  meaningless.
The  care  of  the  chemist  in  weighing  and  mixing  his  compounds ­
  is  well  known.  The  psychologist  must  be  even
more  careful  and  painstaking,  because  he  is  working  in  the
most  delicate  and  sensitive  medium  known;  namely,  the
human  mind.
Although  the  technique  of  psychology,  so  far  as  it  has
been  developed,  can  be  acquired  only  by  years  of  study  and
training,  there  are  certain  phases  of  it  which  the  more
casual  student  can  learn  in  a  shorter  time;  just  as  there  are
phases  of  mixing  chemicals  which  one  can  learn  without
becoming  a  fully  trained  chemist.  The  purpose  of  the
present  chapter  is  to  discuss  some  of  the  fundamental  and
more  obvious  features  of  giving  tests,  such  as  must  be  at
the  command  of  the  employment  manager  who  wishes  to
give  them.

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