The Measurement of Abilities
- Type:
Book Reviews
- Author:
Vernon,
M.A., Ph.D. The University of London Press. 10s. 6d. net.
This book is intended for teachers and examiners, and for psychologists with scientific or clinical interests. The author makes no attempt to describe in detail the large variety of mental tests at present in use. He outlines the principles of test construction and procedure and gives a brief comprehensive list of available tests with particulars as to the publisher and nature of each. He draws attention to the difficulties and dangers which arise in using mental tests and indicates the chief methods of interpreting the significance of the results obtained. A considerable part of the book is devoted to a discussion of the defects of examinations and Present day methods of marking. The reader introduced to simple statistical methods of tabulating marks and calculating the Mean and Standard Deviation of a normal distribution. The author shows the way in which the standard deviation can be used for the measurement of Cental ability, discusses the merits and limita- tions of other methods of measurement and illustrates the method of estimating the relia- bility of, and correlation between mental tests. The author’s treatment of the principles of correlation and the statistical analysis of numerical data is neither as simple as he promises the reader it will be nor as clear as the student with more scientific interests would wish, and ?ne is left to apply algebraic formulae by rule of thumb with no very adequate idea as to the real nature of the calculations carried out. The qualities of good mental tests are carefully considered and much sound, simple advice is given concerning the choice and use of appro- priate tests.
The last few chapters of the book are devoted, almost entirely, to the possible improvement of Present day examination methods. The writer ls keenly aware of the problems involved? alniost too keenly. The book will appeal to teachers and examiners more than to students and psychologists interested in scientific or clinical work, but the author’s contact with his Particular problem, his experience and balanced Judgment, make the book well worth reading by those who are interested in the uses of mental tests. As an introduction to the principles Underlying mental measurement it undoubtedly covers the ground better than any one book yet Published. J.C.R.
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