CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 107, 6 May 1926, Page 16

CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

SUCCESSFUL, VOCATIONAL TESTS

ATTENTION TO SPECIAL BEQUIBEMBNTS.

Recently there was published in England a report o£ the Industrial Fatiguo Research Board on "A Study in Vocational Guidance." It is the joint work of the board and of the National Institute of Industrial Psychology, and it carries "the study of career choosing" a definite step forward, says "The Times." For whereas, until how, efforts have been directed towards finding suitable candidates for posts in industrial life, this effort has been directed towards finding suitable posts for a number of young people leaving "school. Vocational guidance is founded on such commonplace observations as that a blind man is unsuited to drive a mo-tor-car, or a deaf man to work in a telephone exchange. Every human occupation has its own special physical as well as psychical requirements. Those who succeed in a job are those who possess the subtle aptitudes which it demands. As a rule these aptitudes are not recognisable by ordinary methods of examination. The employer, for example, who sees candidates for employment, does not really ■■know' what he wants. He "trys" one boy after another and thinks himself lucky if.a small percentage of these boys, proves suitable. Yet, had he known what he wanted he might have selected at once the suitable candidates, and thus saved himself and them much wasted time and uselsss effort. The present report, which is th« work' of Frances Gaw, M.A., Lettice Ramsey, M.A., May Smith, M.A., and, Winifred ! Spielman, B.Sc, working under the direction of Dr. Cyril Burt, describes how, in ,the first instance, an analysis was made of the occupations taken up by 1000 •; children, leaving the schools in a London borough. When this analysis was complete an intensive study was begun ;oif all children due to leave three selected schools during the following year. vThese totalled exactly 100—52 boys and,4B girla. The home conditions of each w^re ascertained, »U available data about health and hiitory, attainments, and progress were collected, and mental capacities were tested. Advice was then given about the choice of an occupation. The results—after two | years—are thug stated by Dr. Burt:— "The general outcome of the inquiry speaks strongly in favour of the methods used. The scheme has proved workable; the results, unexpectedly successful. Judged by the after histories of the, several children, those who entered occupations of the kind recommended have proved both efficient and contented in their work. As compared with their fellows, they are, on an average, in receipt of higher pay; they have generally obtained promotion earlier; they have experienced fewer changes of situation; and have incurred hardly a single dismissal between them. Over 80 per cent, declare themselves satisfied alike with the work they have taken and with their prospects and their pay. On the other hand, of those who obtained employment different from the kind advised, less than 40 per cent, are satisfied. Among the latter group nearly half dislike their work; and among the former only one dislikes it, and that simply because it is not quite identical with what was originally advised." • Dr. Burt; aidds: '.'Somewhat unexpectedly we found that suggestions put forward by parents were often sound and far-sighted. Not infrequently, however, the parents, were without any views or proposals of their own, and readily welcomed any advice. The aspirations expressed by the children themselves at times threw indirect light upon their personal qualifications, but as serious,' practical suggestions were frequently fantastic. Throughout, it was evident that until actual inquiry was made very little was known of the real interests of the individual children. This, indeed, is one of the most profitable lines which an intensive investigation can follow." The numbers concerned are too small to justify any hard-and-fast conclusion. But it is evident' that the study is one of great interest and importance.