Personality Of The Examiner


Doubtless there are persons so lacking in personal adaptability that success in this

kind of work would be for them impossible. The wooden, mechanical, matter-of-fact and

unresponsive personality is as much out of place in the psychological clinic as the

traditional bull in the china shop. It would make an interesting study

for some one to investigate, by exact methods, the influence on test

results of the personality of differen
examiners who have been equally

trained in the methods to be employed and who are equally conscientious

in applying them according to rules.



On the whole, differences of this kind are probably not very great among

experienced and reasonably competent examiners. Adaptability grows with

experience and with increase of self-confidence. After a few score tests

there should be no serious failure from inability to get into _rapport_

with the child. Even in those rare cases where the child breaks down and

cries from timidity, or perhaps refuses to answer out of embarrassment,

the difficulty can be overcome by sufficient tact so that the

examination may proceed as though nothing had happened.



If the examiner has the proper psychological and personal equipment, the

testing of twenty or thirty children forms a fairly satisfactory

apprenticeship. Without psychological training, no amount of experience

will guarantee absolute accuracy of the results.



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