An account of the research work carried out by the National Institute of Industrial Psychology during the years 1921-34.

Date:
[1934]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: An account of the research work carried out by the National Institute of Industrial Psychology during the years 1921-34. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    measures of mechanical ability repeatedly applied to the same individual appeared high enough to warrant forecasts from the age of thirteen, perhaps even from the age of twelve. But in the case of manual dex¬ terity, the age at which stability occurs appeared to vary from one individual to another. Fifth Experiment A fifth experiment, begun in three secondary and central schools of Willesden in 1932, had to be abandoned on account of unforeseen circumstances. ‘ Experimental ’ and ‘ control ’ groups of pupils were formed as before, but it was found necessary later to reduce the size of these groups so materially that the results were likely to have little statistical reliability. Moreover, as very few of the parents in this area proved able to afford further technical or professional training for their children, most of whom proceeded at once to clerical employment, a satisfactory demonstration of the full value of the application of psychological methods to vocational guidance became impossible. Borstal Experiment At the request of the Prison Commissioners, and on behalf of the Industrial Health Research Board, the Institute, after conducting some preliminary work in 1929, began a vocational experiment in the follow¬ ing year on a group of 400 Borstal Institution boys (40). Before begin¬ ning their occupational Borstal training, these boys were all examined by a member of the Institute’s staff. Recommendations were made for each boy, but they were forwarded to the authorities of the Borstal Institutions only for alternate boys. The remaining 200, forming a ‘ control ’ group, were allocated to their work-parties by their house¬ masters in the usual way. Reports on the progress of each of the 400 boys were furnished at six-monthly intervals by the housemasters, and at the end of the experiment, lasting over four years, each boy was classed as a Grade A or as a Grade B member of his work-party. It was found that of those who had been placed in the work-parties recommended for them by the Institute, 69- 5 per cent, had become Grade A workers ; while of those who had been placed according to the recommendations of their housemasters, only 45 • 6 per cent, had become Grade A workers. There were good reasons for believing that under ordinary conditions this important difference would turn out to be even greater.
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