io8 
EMPLOYMENT PSYCHOLOGY 
specific group of fundamental requirements such as those 
outlined above. Each one represented a set of specifica 
tions drawn up for the purpose of guiding the employment 
office and especially the psychological examiner, in select 
ing the proper candidate for the proper place. 
From this point on, tests were developed and applied to 
meet these specifications. Some of these tests are given 
in the Appendix under titles which, in the light of this 
analysis, will immediately suggest their use. The filing 
tests, for instance, correspond to the kinds of filing desig 
nated in the descriptive form. Topical filing is one of the 
common kinds of office work. Letters have to be filed 
according to the subjects with which they are concerned, 
and to determine what these subjects are is a task which 
requires a certain kind of intelligence or analytical ability- 
The topical filing tests, one simple and the other more 
difficult, are calculated to test this ability. Alphabetical 
filing is a still more common task and requires ability of 
a very different nature. It requires a certain kind of 
mechanical precision rather than analytical powers. The 
alphabetical filing test is calculated to give an index to 
this ability. A still better test for this purpose is to give 
the subject a file box, with a certain number of cards con 
taining names. The subject is requested to file these 
cards under the proper letters. Other tests are designed 
to detect other fundamental abilities. Such tests are 
being found or developed from time to time. 
The specifications just mentioned are standard speci 
fications for standard kinds of work. However, it fre 
quently happens that clerical positions are to be filled 
for which the standard specifications at hand are not ade 
quate. For instance, a stenographer may be desired who 
shall possess, in addition to stenographic ability, ability