158 
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 dem 
onstrated the importance of just such details, and before 
there can be any thoroughgoing uniformity in the pro 
cedure 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