VOCATION TESTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 30 September 1927, Page 3

VOCATION TESTS

INSTITUTE IN SYDNEY. AID TO INDUSTRY. Sydney, Sept. 20. An Australian Institute of Industrial Psychology was formed at a meeting of Sydney manufacturers and education authorities to-day. Why can a child, at a certain age, draw a square, but not a diamond? Dr. A. H. Martin, of Sydney University, says he does not know, but that it is a scientific fact, proved by test. There are variations of intelligence as of height. Dr. Martn was addressing a public meeting this afternoon at Manufacturers’ House, which, following the inaugural gathering last month, was called to form an Institute of Industrial Psychology. With apparatus from the University, Dr. Martin illustrated his tests and theories. TEST FOR TRAVELLERS. An appliance which registered the strength of the handgrip, Dr. Martin suggested, might be useful to commercial travellers. (Laughter.) Another, which consisted of placing the point of a stylus in holes in a steel plate, was a test of steadiness—not of sobriety. The picking up of matches from a board, and placing them in a box might not seem a very sensible test, but as applied to 2000 girls as a test of speed, proved that this varied from 15 to 80 seconds—an important factor as regards packers. It was almost impossible to test character, though tests of honesty and persistency had been more or less successfully attempted. But, the Department of Psychology was carrying out tests of conscientiousness, initiative, and reliability. RESOLUTIONS CARRIED. Following the adoption of the report of a sub-committee appointed by the inaugural meeting, resolutions were carried unanimously, as follows: “That ‘The Australian Institute of Industrial Psychology’ he formed in Sydney, for the help of industry and the scientific guidance of the youth of the community into avocations for which they may be suited, and for the mitigation of fatigue in industry.” “That we adopt as near as practicable the articles of association of the National Institute of Industrial Psychology in Great Britain.” “That the council of the institute be authorised to communicate with the National Institute of Industrial Psychology in Great Britain with a veiew to affiliating with that body.”