Group Examination Beta

Group Examination Beta

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Description
At the time of World War I, American psychologists hoped to extend intelligence testing from children to adults. They persuaded the U.S. Army to test its recruits in order to weed out those mentally unfit for duty overseas. Tests were given to groups of soldiers, with paper and pencil replacing the puzzles and other objects used in earlier tests. Over 1.6 million soldiers took the exams. This 1918 form of the test was called the Army Beta Examination. It was designed for illiterates and those who spoke no English. Instructions were given by pantomime. In the portion of the test shown, inductees were asked to draw the missing part of the pictures.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
psychological test
Date made
1918
maker
Office of the Surgeon General. Division of Psychology
Place Made
United States: District of Columbia, Washington
Physical Description
paper (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 1 cm x 21.3 cm x 28 cm; 13/32 in x 8 3/8 in x 11 1/32 in
ID Number
1990.0334.02
accession number
1990.0334
catalog number
1990.0334.02
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Mathematics
Military
Science & Mathematics
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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