THE  MEASURE  OF  COMPARATIVE  PRODUCTIVENESS  3I9
of  the  basis  for  selection  and  retention  makes  it  possible
to  simplify  these  perplexities.  In  the  instances  given  it
appeared,  when  these  men  were  recommended  for  discharge, ­
  that  there  was  a  lack  of  correlation  between
selection  and  retention  in  the  case  of  A.  However,  a
comparison  between  the  two  sets  of  records  showed  that
this  lack  of  correlation  existed  only  at  one  point,  and  by
investigating  this  point,  the  matter  was  rectified  and  the
correlation  maintained  at  a  higher  level.
Evidently,  therefore,  this  method  of  finding  the  correlation ­
  between  selection  and  retention  has  a  double  aspect. ­
  First,  the  strictly  statistical,  by  which  the  degree
of  correlation  may  be  numerically  expressed.  Second,  the
corrective,  which  reveals  the  exact  points  of  difference
between  selection  and  retention  and  thereby  makes  it
possible  to  apply  the  correct  remedies.
There  are,  to  be  sure,  many  factors  in  the  selection  and
retention  of  employees  which  have  not  been  considered
here,  such  as  length  of  service,  religious  or  political  views,
family  status,  etc.  These,  however,  are  ethical  questions
and  must  be  settled  on  ethical  rather  than  on  scientific
grounds.  Psychology  can  offer  only  certain  general
principles  to  aid  in  their  solution.  However,  as  long  as
the  chief  object  of  an  industry  is  to  serve  or  to  produce,  all
of  these  questions  must  be  treated  in  the  light  of  their
effect  upon  the  employees’  productiveness.  The  industry
or  organization  which  does  not  attain  a  certain  standard  of
productiveness  or  service  can  not  survive;  but  the  attainments ­
  of  any  organization  depend  upon  the  comparative
productiveness  of  its  units,  the  individuals  who  compose
it.  Comparative  productiveness,  therefore,  is  the  “lead  ”,
the  criterion,  with  reference  to  which  all  the  factors  of
selection  and  retention  must  be  determined.