Series Of Reasoning Tests Developed

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30190, 23 July 1963, Page 14

Series Of Reasoning Tests Developed

Four years work by research students in the department ot psychology at the University of Canterbury has p-vduced an integrated series of reasoning tests for use from primary sc hood to undergraduate *ag e It « the first xich programme specially developed for New Zea krd conditions. Mr G A Shouksmith senior lecOtr-v in psychology setd yesterday that tests for secondary school and university level were already complete and available, and the p- mary school tests would be published by the end of the year

"It u hoped to produce a text-book which will show how the tests are used, and »oat predictions can be made vr-.th toe nformation obtained from them " he said "The tests have been devised or chosen so toot they can be given as part of normal elasarootr work, and cnildren qu'te enjoy doing them as they have nothing of the examination atmosphere •b->ut them"

The project was an excellent example of how pure research could suddenly be found to have eride practical applications Mr Sboukamith at id Research workers had been studying the reasoning »o rity of university students about" the stage II or stage 111 level when secondary school b-*-‘dma«*ert. :a advisers •no educationists asked whether suitable tests could be devised for other educational levels The Navy and the Forest Sevioe bad also shown irtereet tn possible tests for ca-’et selection Before toe department could allow stt tests to be used rt had to ascertain New Zealand no-ww and be satisfied that toe test was of v«'ue Th'« had been done «"r the wie* would be eom pl«»ed h» the »nd y* »he rear P r *vious ’erte used ’or educational gu i dance had not he«r at the different levels, and orimarr »rtx»l seennttorv school and' university result had not | h-en a sail able for comparison | as part of a continuing prp-t

oes-- University tests bad been purely verbal, while those used in schools had been non-verbal They had also been orientated towards the academic side su that although a child might have hav potential m a scientific field this could tuve oeen bard to discover The Canterbury reasoning -est as it has been named tf being welcomed by educaton,«s seeking i standardised teat designed specially for use ir. New Zealand.