Test for Quick Reaction
Prepare a strip of cardboard about three inches wide and fourteen inches long. Get as many colors of paper as possible, cut them into strips of unequal width and paste them on the cardboard so that each color will be from one to three inches wide, according to the number secured.
Stand across the room holding the back of the strip towards the children, then turn it over so that they get one clear glance. This glance should not exceed the length of time it takes you to count rapidly one-half the number of colors. There should not be less than six colors on the slip, in which case you count from one to three. After this first quick glance see who can tell accurately HOW MANY colors there are on the slip. Let each write down the number his mind registered without checking up to see if he is correct.
A Test for Color Reaction
Now turn the paper over again so that they see the colors about twice as long as the first test. Then have them write a list of the colors that are on the paper. After they have written all the colors that they saw, have them take the following tests, before checking up the lists.
A Test for Order
Allow a third glance at the color strip while you count ten, and have each begin at the left hand end of the strip, noting the arrangement of the colors, and see if they can write accurately the order in which the colors appear on the card.
The first test is for quick reaction of the mind. The amount that they are able to observe in a given length of time will depend upon the rapidity with which their minds react. This test is designed to determine the rapidity of the mental reaction. About thirty-five per cent of those who take it are able to get the correct number, where the number of colors is not more than seven.
The second test is designed to determine the ability of the mind to hold the color impressions. About twenty-five per cent are able to retain the impression of the seven colors.
The third test combines the power to retain the color impression with the ability to retain the correct order. Experience shows that not over ten per cent are able to give the order accurately.