On the back of this sheet will be found the record of the student to whom it is sent, together with the results obtained with about 250 college freshmen. The individual student may thus see how certain of his physical and mental traits compare with those of other students. Some of the records are given in percentages: Thus, in the case of eyesight, if the student has a record of 44 cm. or under he is among the third or fourth having the worst eyesight and should consult an oculist. Others of the records are given in averages, and the student can readily see whether he is above or below the average. After the average is given a number in parenthesis which is the probable error. If the record of an individual departs from the average by less than this quantity he belongs to the half of the students who are medium or normal. Thus in the case of the reaction-time, if a student has a time more than 0.019 sec. below 0.159 sec. he is among the quarter of the students who are the quickest.

In several of the tests, especially sensation-areas, force of movement, perception of pitch, of size and of time, and memory for size, the number of trials is not sufficient to establish certainly the place of the student among the others.

Tests such as these are of importance for science. They teach us the normal type of individual and the normal variation from this type. They show us how different classes in the community differ, and on what conditions of heredity, education, etc., these differences depend. They show us how physical and mental traits are interrelated, how they alter with growth, and on what conditions development depends. The tests should be of interest to the individual as they show how he compares with his fellows, indicating defects and special aptitudes, and if repeated later in the college course or in after life the comparison may prove of great value. This record should be compared with the measurements taken in the gymnasium.

Early Columbia Tests

Record of ______________________________________________________
Together with the averages and percentages of about 250 students.


Head: { length, 19.4 cm. (0.43)______________
{ breadth, 15.3 cm. (0.38)______________
Vision: Right eye, 72 cm. and over, 15%; 61 to 52 cm.,
52%; 44 cm. and under, 33%______________
Vision: Left eye, 72 cm. and over, 16%; 61 to 52 cm.,
60%; 44 cm., and under, 24%______________
Color vision: Normal, 94.5%; defective, 4%; blind, 1.5%______________
Preference for color: Blue, 42%; red, 22%; violet, 19%;
yellow, 2%; green, 7%; white, 3%,; none, 5%______________
Hearing: Right ear, abnormal, 3%______________
Hearing: Left ear, abnormal, 2%______________
Perception of pitch: Error less than 1/10 tone, 10%;
1/10 to one tone, 53%; more than one tone, 37%______________
Sensation areas: Correct 4 or 5 times, 63%; 3, 2, 1 or
0 times, 37%______________
Force of movement: Error, 1.44 cm. (0.51)______________
Sensitiveness to Pain: Right hand, 5.9 kg. (2.4)______________
Sensitiveness to Pain: Left hand, 5.6 kg. (2.2)______________
Strength: Right hand, 36.3 kg. (4.9)______________
Strength: Left hand, 33.5 kg. (4.7)______________
Fatigue: Work done 284.3 kg______________
Fatigue: Amount of fatigue, 65% (27)______________
Reaction-time: 0.159 sec. (0.019)______________
Marking 100 letters: 100 sec. (12)______________
Naming 100 colors: 85 sec. (14)______________
Making 100 movements: 34 sec. (4)______________
100 accurate movements: {time, 49 sec. (47)______________
{av. error, 0.8 mm. (0.3)______________
Perception of size: Error, 2.4 mm. (2.0)______________
Perception of time: Error, 2.4 mm. (2.0)______________
Memory: Numerals, heard, 7.6 (0.4)______________
Memory: Numerals, seen, 6.9 (0.5)______________
Memory: logical, 44.5% (11)______________
Memory retrospective, error, 4.5 mm. (2.6)______________
Association time, 55.4 sec. (22.9)______________
Association of opposites______________
Imagery: Visualization, distinct, 83%______________
Imagery: Auditory, distinct, 23%______________

NORMS AND STANDARDS

The following tables illustrate the principle of norms and standards for mental and physical characteristics. In these cases various traits or measures of performance have been recorded on large numbers of children at each age from six years to eighteen years. The figures under a given age column indicate what should be expected from the average or normal person of that age, in the trait in question. If the individual is precisely "at age" in all the traits measured, all his records will fall in the vertical column under the figure indicating age. Deviation above or below the average will be indicated by position above or below this column. For description of the tests and instructions for their administration the reader should consult the references given on pages 275-282.