Much interesting material bearing on the results obtained by the application of psychology to business methods has been collected by the National Institute of Psychology, and Physiology, referred to the "Daily News."
In a bicycle-ball factory 120 girls were employed in inspecting balls for flaws, for which work good powers of observation and quick reaction were essential. Special tests were applied to the girls, with the result that some of the most intel~ ligent, industrious and honest were found' unsuited to the work, and were transferred to more suitable occupations elsewhere. By employing only the most efficient workers, the output was increased by over 240 per cent. At the same time their hours of work were reduced from 10} to 8} per day, two days" holiday were given per month, their wages were increased 100 per cent., the accuracy of the work was increased by two-thirds, and there was a large decrease in the cost of production.
That psychological tests are invaluable in such an occupation as driving a tram or bus is suggested by the following example: On applying a test to motor-men devised to estimate their speed of prehending and acting on a given: situation, a very close correspon. dence was found between their efficiency at the test and their efficiency in actual service, based on the number of accidents recorded against them. Thus a test of 10 minutes served to rule out months of needless accidents."
An important branch of the new Institute will deal with the elimination of unnecessary movements. It has been found that wherever movement study and the organization of material have been scientifically carried out, output has been enormously increased, hours of labour have been shortened. with a simultaneous reduction of cost and a large increase of wages. In many cases the increase in output was as hich as 200 per cent.
Scientific investigation has shown that there are two main sources of fatigue, muscular and nervous, and there are two main kinds of fatigue, due to the excessive accumulation of waste products and to the boredom arising from monotonous work.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.