34^ 
EMPLOYMENT PSYCHOLOGY 
psychologist or the trained interviewer must continue the 
process. When, by a series of test questions, it has been 
discovered that the applicant has a general knowledge 
of the work in question, the psychologist will give him a 
series of standard tests, such as is given to all other appli 
cants for that work, in order to discover more closely 
what the applicant’s ability really is. These tests will 
be based upon the actual work of the position in question. 
In the case of the mechanical trades, applicants are first 
shown an assortment of odd tools, and asked to point out 
those which are used in their trade. Then, as a more 
refined test, they are given a series of hypothetical tasks 
and asked to point out the tools which would be used in 
the performance of each task. As a still further test, a 
set of typical drawings is displayed, and the applicant 
asked to point out the work which each drawing calls for. 
A tool maker or machinist, for instance, may be shown a 
series of blueprints representing operations of the various 
machine tools, and he may be asked to state, in each 
case, which of the machines would be involved in perform 
ing the work called for by each of the drawings. This is 
a very simple test but one which reveals a great deal 
about a man’s ability. Finally, the applicant may be 
requested to give a demonstration of his knowledge by 
performing some actual work on tasks assigned by the 
interviewer. The draftsman may be asked to do some 
lettering, to make a sketch, to design a fixture, or to work 
out a gauge. The machinist may be given a task on a 
machine which will involve certain essential operations. 
The stenographer is tried out on some actual dictation 
and typing. The accountant will be given some entries 
to make, etc., etc. 
Several objections are likely to be raised at this point.