THE  OBSERVATIONAL  METHOD  2Jg
tirely  unlike  set  of  ideas  and  notions  about  human  nature,
so  that  his  manner  of  interpreting  observed  signs  will  be
quite  different  from  the  practice  of  his  predecessor.  These
facts  have  already  been  sufficiently  discussed  in  the
introductory  chapter.  There  is,  however,  one  more
variable  factor  in  the  observational  method  which  has
not  been  discussed  but  which  is  very  important.
According  to  the  experience  of  the  writer,  and  according
to  the  testimony  of  various  employment  experts,  there  is  a
very  strong  tendency  at  times  to  become  entirely  oblivious
to  the  appearance  and  actions  of  those  who  are  being  interviewed. ­
  The  process  of  hiring  becomes  at  such  times  almost ­
  wholly  mechanical.  The  mind  of  the  observer  becomes ­
  almost  a  blank,  and  all  faces  take  on  the  same
general  appearance.  The  differences  in  dress,  actions,  and
appearance  which  served  as  some  guide  to  the  interviewer
before  seem  to  fade  into  a  dim  haze,  as  if  the  observer  had
become  intoxicated  with  too  much  gazing.  The  sole  remaining ­
  thought  is  to  fill  the  necessary  requisitions  as
expeditiously  as  possible.  This  phenomenon  has  been
Verified  by  the  experience  of  employment  experts  who
have  interviewed  thousands  of  people,  and,  although
apparently  fantastic  in  the  extreme,  becomes  only  natural ­
  upon  second  thought.  It  is  inevitable  for  the  mind
of  the  observer  to  become  tired  and  confused  toward  the
end  of  a  busy  morning  or  afternoon.  And  at  such  times,
it  is  no  longer  possible  to  see  the  distinctions  between
applicants  which  were  plain  before.  When  this  condition
arises,  employment  degenerates  into  mere  routine  and
an  enormous  number  of  costly  mistakes  are  made.
In  spite  of  the  large  number  of  weaknesses  which  the
observational  method  possesses,  and  even  though  it  is
thoroughly  unscientific  in  its  method  or  rather  in  its  lack