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EMPLOYMENT  PSYCHOLOGY

exciting  the  applicant  through  the  inflections  which  he
places  upon  such  critical  words.  He  should  say  these
words  monotonously,  rather  than  in  a  way  which  will
suggest  a  violent  push  from  behind.  And  in  order  still
further  to  avoid  the  state  of  emotion  suggested  by  the
word^o  it  has  been  our  practice  to  use  the  word  “start"
instead.  This  word  serves  the  purpose  perfectly  and  is
free  from  the  significance  of  the  word  go.  This  may  seem
like  a  very  trivial  detail.  However,  experience  has  demonstrated ­
  the  importance  of  just  such  details,  and  before
there  can  be  any  thoroughgoing  uniformity  in  the  procedure ­
  of  giving  tests,  there  must  be  perfect  agreement,
both  theoretical  and  practical,  in  details  of  this  nature.
The  time  which  the  applicant  occupies  in  taking  tests
need  not  be  an  empty  time  for  the  examiner.  In  fact,  the
expert  examiner  is  usually  busiest  while  waiting  for  his
subject  to  finish  a  test.  Besides  watching  the  stop  watch,
and  being  on  the  alert  for  any  signs  of  faltering  on  the
part  of  the  subject,  he  can  be  preparing  the  next  test  or
correcting  the  test  which  has  just  been  completed.  The
correcting  of  tests  is  one  of  the  most  irksome  parts  of  the
psychologist’s  work.  Therefore,  if  he  can  do  it  while  he  is
actually  conducting  an  examination,  he  will  not  only  save
a  great  deal  of  time  and  labor  in  the  future,  but  he  will
also  have  the  results  of  the  examination  ready  almost  as
soon  as  the  applicant  has  completed  the  tests.  Many
devices  and  short  cuts  are  used  to  facilitate  the  process  of
correcting  tests,  such  as  making  out  correction  keys,  and
using  cardboard  stencils  which,  when  laid  on  the  test,
will  cover  up  all  but  the  parts  which  must  be  examined.
These  are  only  a  few  of  the  many  details  in  the  complicated
technique  which  the  psychological  examiner  must  acquire.
Closely  allied  with  this  particular  point  is  the  use  of  the