XI 
TESTING TO SPECIFICATION 
The tests discussed in the preceding two chapters were 
designed to apply to certain general kinds of office work, 
Su ch as typing, stenography, comptometry, and routine 
clerical work. However, it soon became evident that 
these tests were neither comprehensive nor specific enough 
to meet every situation. This fact was revealed through 
t^ e follow-up work which has already been spoken of. 
t he follow-up work consisted of inspecting the results of 
e very selection, whether for factory or office work, at in 
tervals of a month for three months, then at the end of 
the sixth month, and finally, after the lapse of a year. In 
the course of this work it was found that tests were fre 
quently given for abilities which the worker did not need 
to possess, and also, that the tests given did not adequately 
cover the work in question. As instances of this kind 
Multiplied, it became increasingly necessary to provide 
rn ° r e tests and more highly specialized tests for the varie- 
tles of work which were being encountered. It finally be- 
Ca me evident that, in order to provide for this situation 
s y s tematically, it would be necessary to make a complete 
survey of the different kinds of clerical work, and then 
a Pply tests accordingly. 
Before entering upon the more complete and minute 
Survey, a hasty preliminary canvass was made in which 
!t was discovered that there were seven hundred and fifty 
Sev en clerks engaged in tasks going under two hundred and 
103