THE TECHNIQUE OF GIVING TESTS 155 
One of the most frequent questions put to the psy 
chologist is this: “Is not the person whom you are testing 
likely to be nervous, and, if so, is this not likely to destroy 
the value of your tests?” This question must be un 
hesitatingly answered in the affirmative. Subjects are 
frequently nervous and their performance in the tests is 
therefore often non-characteristic. When a doubt arises 
as to the fitness of an applicant of this kind, justice re 
quires that the applicant be given the benefit of the 
doubt. However, there are serious objections to this 
practice. If the examiner is allowed to set aside the 
results of the tests according to his own ideas as to 
whether a subject was very nervous or only slightly 
Uervous, the scientific character of the psychological ex 
amination disappears and the old-fashioned method of 
^dividual judgment is allowed to slip back into its 
place. 
Instead of this arbitrary procedure another method has 
been devised. This consists of giving the subject a shock- 
absorber. The shock-absorber is a preliminary test, the 
purpose of which is solely to overcome the initial excite 
ment of the subject. It is not counted in estimating the 
final results. The shock-absorber must have two char 
acteristics. First, it must be easy. If it is difficult, it 
Will only serve to increase the nervousness of the in 
dividual being examined. Secondly, it must be interesting, 
"frhe object of the test is to engage the attention of the 
subject as completely as possible, thereby drawing it 
away from himself and from the harassing situation in 
which the applicant for a position usually finds himself. 
Experience has demonstrated that the best way in which 
to overcome an applicant’s nervousness is by giving him a 
pleasant and easy task to perform. If the task is easy, it