- Email: [email protected]
MAZE TESTS AND SOCIAL ADAPTABILITY.
1152
but
Correspondence. "Audi alternam partem."
MAZE TESTS AND SOCIAL ADAPTABILITY. To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,—In your issue of Nov. 20th, 1026, there an article by Dr. H. F. Jarrett which dealt in part with tlw application of my maze tests to
appeared
,
youths in the Borstal Institution. article a letter from Dr. R. Evelyn published which stated that :100 this
.
Following’ Lucas
was
,
"
The Porteus ’ maze ’ tests would hardly seem the best choice for determining the individual’s apperceptiveabilities. Their value lies in estimating powers of mental representation and planfulness in dealing with geonietrical figures rather than with a concrete situation such as the individual is likely to meet. with in ordinary daily life. To be sure Porteus himself claims considerably more than this for the test, but his statements have not been verilied hy other investigators. In my opinion, by far the most valuable test of this nature, and one which has a fairly high correlation with social apperceptions, is Iteaty’s ’Pictorial Completion II.’ "
The number of misleading statements included in this brief paragraph is such that it would seem desirable that a brief summary of the present status of the maze test be given for your readers who might otherwise be led astray by ill-informed or unsupported opinions." In the first place, Dr. Jarrett was probably not concerned particularly with the individuals’ apperceptive abilities. If, however, he was concerned with estimating. the tendency of his subjects to exercise planning and prudence in a simple situation or conversely to act impulsively or in a mentally confused manner when faced with a new problem, then probably Dr. Jarrett’s choice of tests was a ivise one. In any case he is not alone a recent survey of mental clinics in this matter. in New York State, by Boyakin 1 showed that over 40 per cent. of these clinics were using the maze The Pintner-Paterson scale was next on the test. list, and amongst the other 68 tests listed the combined percentages for Healty Completion I and II was 25 per cent. If, as your correspondent states, this test is so much more valuable than the maze it is evidently not as well known in Alnerica as it should be. In the second place, your correspondent’s description of the maze test ts estimating powers of mental representation of geometrical figures," would be "
"
recognised
by
psychologist
as being very make one wonder whether Miss Lucas has really had any experience at all with the tests. Such powers enter into an intelligent response tu the tests to a very small degree unless the ability to trace a course with the eye for a few inches can be considered " mental
inadequate,
so
any
much
so
as
to
of geometrical figures." The further statement that I have made claims for the tests which have not been supported by other investigators is best answered by a brief summary of some of the literature evidently unknown to your correspondent. Morgenthau in " Some Well-Known Mental Tests Evaluated and Compared "2 a nionograph written with the advice of Drs. Healy and Bronner, comes to the following conclusiun :-
representation
gives no shred of evidence for the opinion that it is far more valuable than the rest. Arthur and Woodrow tried a numberof erformance tests with large numbers of clinic es in St. Paul. U.S.A., and found that as regards discriminative value—i.e., power to distinguish between ability at different chronological levels (as between eight ’and nine year ability for example)—the maze was among the best of the performance tests now available. Virginia Graham Taylor working with Jewish and Italian children obtained confirmatory data. In an article. Comparison of Stanford and Porteus Tests in Several Types of Social Inadequacy. Cornell and Lowden’s results confirm the claim that the maze tests are better measures of social adaptability than are the verbal tests. The constitutional psychopathic inferior group had a median StanfordBinet of 13.25 years, as against 12.25 mental a,’ score A by the Porteus. non-psychotic but mal-adjusted group had a Binet median age of 1408 years and a maze score of 12 .25 years—quite a The so-called mentally significant difference. defective group included cases on parole from institutions and they scored 10.21 years by the Binet. 11 years by the maze. Considering these high levels they were certainly not ii typical feeble-minded _group.3 In the Institute of Juvenile Research in Chicago. Worthington compared the maze with other performance tests and reported the results in all article, Study of Some Commonly Used Performance Tests. On the basis mainly of high correlation with the Stanford-Binet. inter-correlations. and normal distribution of results she picked four out of thf eleven tests as being the best substitutes for a, Binet Examination when this could not be applied. The four tests were Pintner-Toops, Seguin Form. Board. Porteus Maze. and Trabue Completion. In Frances Gaw’s Study of Performance Tests the introspections of seven psychologists who took the tests included the maze and Kellv’s tests as tlw As regards only tests of temperamental the validity of the tests, that is to say actual pruuf that they do measure in part social adaptability. there are few studies, since to gather the observations to serve as criteria is admittedly Elizabeth Ross working at Baldovan difficult. Institution found a correlation of 0.76 between Porteus age and ability in Handwork, the Binet In mental age correlating with Handwork 0.69. another investigation the Porteus correlated 0’81 with industrial rating of inrnates, the Binet also 0-81, but the average of Binet and Porteus meutal 0-87. Industrial capacity is of course an important factor in social adaptability. Wildenskov has applied the tests at the Keller Institute in Denmark and confirmed results previously obtained by me (Porteus Labyrintskala, for Abnormvoesenet). lIe states in his conclusions, that at the time of testing 100 inmates-
capacities.
necessary
Nyt Tidsskrift
"information was obtained of the practical abilityof each individual from the people with whom they have been placed. A comparison shows that in the Porteus scale we have got a valuable addition to our test material."
Herring reports the results of a comparison between experienced examiner’s diagnosis of feeblemindedness by means of observation of the child at work on the Porteus maze, plus the consideration of the Binet, Wilnter Form Board, Army Designsr " The results obtained as to value of the tests were as case history, psychiatric and medical findings. He follows : Stanford-Binet, Pintner, Alpha II. and Porteus states that this diagnosis of degree of feeblemindedness are valuable tests and should be included in individual In spite of their unmeasured reliability, practically agreed with the Porteus test results, a case studies. 5 As regards the Myera and Pictorial Completion II. are also valuable tests, correlation of -937 being obtained. of the for tests and should likewise be included." diagnostic purposes this validity an
She found that JP.C. II. and Porteus maze test evidence is of value. Finally, as regards the application of these tests correlated about the same with the Binet and rather to delinquents, Doll in a paper entitled Education of highly with each other ; the coefficient (0-70) being Juvenile Delinquents6 states:to indicate a measure of high enough goodly Porteus nlotor intelligence tests should be applied The agreement and yet low enough to show that they whenever posstbte. Certain boys who may obtain high are not both measuring the same capacities. This 1923. indicates that P.C. If. is a very valuable test, 3 Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, April-June, 4 British Journal of Psychology, April, 1925. 5 1926. 1 Journal of Educational Psychology, September, 1926. Journal of Educational Psychology, April, 6 2 Archives of Psychology, 52. Journal of Delinquency, March, 1921. "
1153 in the group tests or in the Binet test may porve low intelligence when examined by the Porteus tests. and many boys whose intelligence is low in the verbal Porteus tests. score high in the These tests exceptional cases are numerous and important. Morcover, the Porteus tests seem to furnish a reliable estimate of industrial capacity and of temperamental type. Thesspecially indicate such qualities of intelligence as ability to plan, strength of inhibitions and carefulness of execution. In addition to these advantages the Porteus tests yield a mental ages core in terms of practical social officiency as opposed to the intellectual efficiency revealed by the Binet scores
to have
frequently
tests."
RADIOGRAPHY IN THE TREATMENT OF FRACTURES. To the Editor of THE LANCET. are astonished to see its the columns of THE LANCET for last week a letter. under this heading, signed by Dr. C. Leonard W’illiams. honorary secretary of theTodmorden Jldical Society, referring to a circular letter issued by the Medical Defence Uniun to its members only, and which was for obvious reasons marked private and confidential." This circular letter was in the nature of friendly warning and advice to members of the Medical Defence rnion from the Council, based on its experience in a large number of recent cases. It is obvious that this circular letter has been misinterpreted. but public discussion of a matter of this sort in THE LANCET could only defeat the object of our Council in marking this letter private and confidential," and would bring about the very results which are shadowed in the earlier paragraphs of Dr. Williams’s letter. Needless to say, our Council is prepared to discuss the matter with any member who shares the views expressed in Dr. Williams’s letter, and we have no doubt that anv fears that he may share with Dr. Williams and his will be set. at rest. We are. Sir. vours faithfully. HERBERT F. WATERHOUSE,
SIR.—We
"
Considering Doll’s experience as psychologist in the reformatories and jails of New Jersey his testimony must be regarded as having weight in this matter. It might be noted that I have never made any claims for the tests which go beyond this statement of Doll’s. In cunclusiun, might I state once again what I have already in many publications given as my position in this matter. I do not. and have never claimed that the maze tests are adequate measures of temperament, or moral character, or intelligence. They do seem, however, to give some measure of certain important temperamental or social traits. I have never advucated that they should be applied alone nor their single verdict relied upon except where other tests are clearly inapplicable. They are by no means perfect instruments of diagnosis or research -the psychopathic frequently, and the steadygoing tlefective rarely, may slip through their meshes so that failure in the tests is always more significant than success. They are not tests of planning capacity as such, but of the indiridual’s tendency to use planning Unless practice capacity in a simple situation. effects are allowed for, they cannot safely be reapplied to the same children and hence their reliability cannot be tested by the ordinary reliability coefficent Taken by themselves, as measures of formulæ. moral worth, they are clecidedly inadequate. I should as soon expect every criminal to fail in the In other tests as1 should every insane person. words 1 have no more faith in the maze tests than I have in tests in general, they merely represent one to the problem of social and angle of mental diagnosis and are not to be relied upon too implicitlj-. In short, perhaps the best that can be said of the maze tests is that they are among the best of a poor lot. However, until sonteune devises a better test for temperamental traits I shall continue to recommend their use. One claim also I shall continue to make without fear of refutation—there is no performance test in use at, present which has had somuch work done on it in the way of proving the test itself and of providing data for its interpretation, nor has any other performance test been more
"
privately
Society
President.
JAMES NEAL. General Secretary.
Bedford-square. W.C., May 23rd, 1927.
A POINT UNDER THE MIDWIVES ACTS. To the Editor
of THE LANCET. SIR.—Medical practitioners have recently been refused payment fur assisting midwives in eoergencies by the Devon County Council on the ground
that the accounts for such assistance have not been sent in within two months from the date of the first attendance. Heading- Section 2. Subsection 2. of the Midwives Act, 1926, and Section 14. Subsection 2. of the Midwives Act. 1918, together, it is a condition of payment of such fees that the accounts must be rendered within two months from the date of the first attendance, and. therefore, strictly speaking, the Devon County Council are within their rights. as laid down by statute, in refusing to consider a claim for fees under the Midwives Acts which are rendered after the two months statutory period. Unfortunately no notice of this regulation is conveyed to the medical practitioners. and those who are not familiar with the Midwives Acts are consewidely or more employed. quently not aware that it is important to render The belief that I have made other claims for the their accounts as soon as possible. Even if there are tests may be due to the fact that I have consistently solid for grounds requiring early rendering criticised the practice, at one time so conlmon in of such accounts stringently it would seem to be only fair that of all for of America, relying entirely purposes due intimation of this most unusual condition should mental diagnosis and prognosis on a Binet test be cummunicated to the practitioners concerned. alone. This attitude hasbeen twisted bv some to The matter is not one of interest to the medical mean that I believed that my test would do only. but also concerns the public very that was left undone by the Binet and that any profession since the result of failure to obtain payment examiner who was armed with a maze test and a seriously, under such circumstances has led medical pracBinet was thereby a clinical psychologist ! titioners to decline in future to attend cases on the Might I add that Dr. Healy’s work, and particularly summons of a midwife. It would be very unfortunate his attitude to mental testing in general, is to my if this state of affairs should continue or extend. trlind thoroughly admirable. In clinical work I I am, Sir, yours faithfully. believe in the adequacy of his method and I use HUGH WOODS. General Secretary, London and Counties Medical some of his tests. P.C. II. is a very valuable test, Protection Society, Ltd. and will occupy a permanent place in clinical Victory House, Leicester-square, London, W.C. 2, It differs considerably in nature examinations. May 19th. 1927. from the maze and as each has its value there the absence of ofticial warning as to the *In is no need for drawing invidious comparisons between refutations enacting the rendering of these accounts them. within two months, it is hoped that practitioners I am, Sir, yours faithfully, will make a careful note of the above communication. The need for promptness, insisted on by the Midwives S. D. PORTEUS, Acts. is due to the migratory nature of the constituency Professor of Clinical Psychology, University concerned.-—D. L. of Hawaii. March 16th, 1927.
approach
variously
everything
but
Correspondence. "Audi alternam partem."
MAZE TESTS AND SOCIAL ADAPTABILITY. To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,—In your issue of Nov. 20th, 1026, there an article by Dr. H. F. Jarrett which dealt in part with tlw application of my maze tests to
appeared
,
youths in the Borstal Institution. article a letter from Dr. R. Evelyn published which stated that :100 this
.
Following’ Lucas
was
,
"
The Porteus ’ maze ’ tests would hardly seem the best choice for determining the individual’s apperceptiveabilities. Their value lies in estimating powers of mental representation and planfulness in dealing with geonietrical figures rather than with a concrete situation such as the individual is likely to meet. with in ordinary daily life. To be sure Porteus himself claims considerably more than this for the test, but his statements have not been verilied hy other investigators. In my opinion, by far the most valuable test of this nature, and one which has a fairly high correlation with social apperceptions, is Iteaty’s ’Pictorial Completion II.’ "
The number of misleading statements included in this brief paragraph is such that it would seem desirable that a brief summary of the present status of the maze test be given for your readers who might otherwise be led astray by ill-informed or unsupported opinions." In the first place, Dr. Jarrett was probably not concerned particularly with the individuals’ apperceptive abilities. If, however, he was concerned with estimating. the tendency of his subjects to exercise planning and prudence in a simple situation or conversely to act impulsively or in a mentally confused manner when faced with a new problem, then probably Dr. Jarrett’s choice of tests was a ivise one. In any case he is not alone a recent survey of mental clinics in this matter. in New York State, by Boyakin 1 showed that over 40 per cent. of these clinics were using the maze The Pintner-Paterson scale was next on the test. list, and amongst the other 68 tests listed the combined percentages for Healty Completion I and II was 25 per cent. If, as your correspondent states, this test is so much more valuable than the maze it is evidently not as well known in Alnerica as it should be. In the second place, your correspondent’s description of the maze test ts estimating powers of mental representation of geometrical figures," would be "
"
recognised
by
psychologist
as being very make one wonder whether Miss Lucas has really had any experience at all with the tests. Such powers enter into an intelligent response tu the tests to a very small degree unless the ability to trace a course with the eye for a few inches can be considered " mental
inadequate,
so
any
much
so
as
to
of geometrical figures." The further statement that I have made claims for the tests which have not been supported by other investigators is best answered by a brief summary of some of the literature evidently unknown to your correspondent. Morgenthau in " Some Well-Known Mental Tests Evaluated and Compared "2 a nionograph written with the advice of Drs. Healy and Bronner, comes to the following conclusiun :-
representation
gives no shred of evidence for the opinion that it is far more valuable than the rest. Arthur and Woodrow tried a numberof erformance tests with large numbers of clinic es in St. Paul. U.S.A., and found that as regards discriminative value—i.e., power to distinguish between ability at different chronological levels (as between eight ’and nine year ability for example)—the maze was among the best of the performance tests now available. Virginia Graham Taylor working with Jewish and Italian children obtained confirmatory data. In an article. Comparison of Stanford and Porteus Tests in Several Types of Social Inadequacy. Cornell and Lowden’s results confirm the claim that the maze tests are better measures of social adaptability than are the verbal tests. The constitutional psychopathic inferior group had a median StanfordBinet of 13.25 years, as against 12.25 mental a,’ score A by the Porteus. non-psychotic but mal-adjusted group had a Binet median age of 1408 years and a maze score of 12 .25 years—quite a The so-called mentally significant difference. defective group included cases on parole from institutions and they scored 10.21 years by the Binet. 11 years by the maze. Considering these high levels they were certainly not ii typical feeble-minded _group.3 In the Institute of Juvenile Research in Chicago. Worthington compared the maze with other performance tests and reported the results in all article, Study of Some Commonly Used Performance Tests. On the basis mainly of high correlation with the Stanford-Binet. inter-correlations. and normal distribution of results she picked four out of thf eleven tests as being the best substitutes for a, Binet Examination when this could not be applied. The four tests were Pintner-Toops, Seguin Form. Board. Porteus Maze. and Trabue Completion. In Frances Gaw’s Study of Performance Tests the introspections of seven psychologists who took the tests included the maze and Kellv’s tests as tlw As regards only tests of temperamental the validity of the tests, that is to say actual pruuf that they do measure in part social adaptability. there are few studies, since to gather the observations to serve as criteria is admittedly Elizabeth Ross working at Baldovan difficult. Institution found a correlation of 0.76 between Porteus age and ability in Handwork, the Binet In mental age correlating with Handwork 0.69. another investigation the Porteus correlated 0’81 with industrial rating of inrnates, the Binet also 0-81, but the average of Binet and Porteus meutal 0-87. Industrial capacity is of course an important factor in social adaptability. Wildenskov has applied the tests at the Keller Institute in Denmark and confirmed results previously obtained by me (Porteus Labyrintskala, for Abnormvoesenet). lIe states in his conclusions, that at the time of testing 100 inmates-
capacities.
necessary
Nyt Tidsskrift
"information was obtained of the practical abilityof each individual from the people with whom they have been placed. A comparison shows that in the Porteus scale we have got a valuable addition to our test material."
Herring reports the results of a comparison between experienced examiner’s diagnosis of feeblemindedness by means of observation of the child at work on the Porteus maze, plus the consideration of the Binet, Wilnter Form Board, Army Designsr " The results obtained as to value of the tests were as case history, psychiatric and medical findings. He follows : Stanford-Binet, Pintner, Alpha II. and Porteus states that this diagnosis of degree of feeblemindedness are valuable tests and should be included in individual In spite of their unmeasured reliability, practically agreed with the Porteus test results, a case studies. 5 As regards the Myera and Pictorial Completion II. are also valuable tests, correlation of -937 being obtained. of the for tests and should likewise be included." diagnostic purposes this validity an
She found that JP.C. II. and Porteus maze test evidence is of value. Finally, as regards the application of these tests correlated about the same with the Binet and rather to delinquents, Doll in a paper entitled Education of highly with each other ; the coefficient (0-70) being Juvenile Delinquents6 states:to indicate a measure of high enough goodly Porteus nlotor intelligence tests should be applied The agreement and yet low enough to show that they whenever posstbte. Certain boys who may obtain high are not both measuring the same capacities. This 1923. indicates that P.C. If. is a very valuable test, 3 Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, April-June, 4 British Journal of Psychology, April, 1925. 5 1926. 1 Journal of Educational Psychology, September, 1926. Journal of Educational Psychology, April, 6 2 Archives of Psychology, 52. Journal of Delinquency, March, 1921. "
1153 in the group tests or in the Binet test may porve low intelligence when examined by the Porteus tests. and many boys whose intelligence is low in the verbal Porteus tests. score high in the These tests exceptional cases are numerous and important. Morcover, the Porteus tests seem to furnish a reliable estimate of industrial capacity and of temperamental type. Thesspecially indicate such qualities of intelligence as ability to plan, strength of inhibitions and carefulness of execution. In addition to these advantages the Porteus tests yield a mental ages core in terms of practical social officiency as opposed to the intellectual efficiency revealed by the Binet scores
to have
frequently
tests."
RADIOGRAPHY IN THE TREATMENT OF FRACTURES. To the Editor of THE LANCET. are astonished to see its the columns of THE LANCET for last week a letter. under this heading, signed by Dr. C. Leonard W’illiams. honorary secretary of theTodmorden Jldical Society, referring to a circular letter issued by the Medical Defence Uniun to its members only, and which was for obvious reasons marked private and confidential." This circular letter was in the nature of friendly warning and advice to members of the Medical Defence rnion from the Council, based on its experience in a large number of recent cases. It is obvious that this circular letter has been misinterpreted. but public discussion of a matter of this sort in THE LANCET could only defeat the object of our Council in marking this letter private and confidential," and would bring about the very results which are shadowed in the earlier paragraphs of Dr. Williams’s letter. Needless to say, our Council is prepared to discuss the matter with any member who shares the views expressed in Dr. Williams’s letter, and we have no doubt that anv fears that he may share with Dr. Williams and his will be set. at rest. We are. Sir. vours faithfully. HERBERT F. WATERHOUSE,
SIR.—We
"
Considering Doll’s experience as psychologist in the reformatories and jails of New Jersey his testimony must be regarded as having weight in this matter. It might be noted that I have never made any claims for the tests which go beyond this statement of Doll’s. In cunclusiun, might I state once again what I have already in many publications given as my position in this matter. I do not. and have never claimed that the maze tests are adequate measures of temperament, or moral character, or intelligence. They do seem, however, to give some measure of certain important temperamental or social traits. I have never advucated that they should be applied alone nor their single verdict relied upon except where other tests are clearly inapplicable. They are by no means perfect instruments of diagnosis or research -the psychopathic frequently, and the steadygoing tlefective rarely, may slip through their meshes so that failure in the tests is always more significant than success. They are not tests of planning capacity as such, but of the indiridual’s tendency to use planning Unless practice capacity in a simple situation. effects are allowed for, they cannot safely be reapplied to the same children and hence their reliability cannot be tested by the ordinary reliability coefficent Taken by themselves, as measures of formulæ. moral worth, they are clecidedly inadequate. I should as soon expect every criminal to fail in the In other tests as1 should every insane person. words 1 have no more faith in the maze tests than I have in tests in general, they merely represent one to the problem of social and angle of mental diagnosis and are not to be relied upon too implicitlj-. In short, perhaps the best that can be said of the maze tests is that they are among the best of a poor lot. However, until sonteune devises a better test for temperamental traits I shall continue to recommend their use. One claim also I shall continue to make without fear of refutation—there is no performance test in use at, present which has had somuch work done on it in the way of proving the test itself and of providing data for its interpretation, nor has any other performance test been more
"
privately
Society
President.
JAMES NEAL. General Secretary.
Bedford-square. W.C., May 23rd, 1927.
A POINT UNDER THE MIDWIVES ACTS. To the Editor
of THE LANCET. SIR.—Medical practitioners have recently been refused payment fur assisting midwives in eoergencies by the Devon County Council on the ground
that the accounts for such assistance have not been sent in within two months from the date of the first attendance. Heading- Section 2. Subsection 2. of the Midwives Act, 1926, and Section 14. Subsection 2. of the Midwives Act. 1918, together, it is a condition of payment of such fees that the accounts must be rendered within two months from the date of the first attendance, and. therefore, strictly speaking, the Devon County Council are within their rights. as laid down by statute, in refusing to consider a claim for fees under the Midwives Acts which are rendered after the two months statutory period. Unfortunately no notice of this regulation is conveyed to the medical practitioners. and those who are not familiar with the Midwives Acts are consewidely or more employed. quently not aware that it is important to render The belief that I have made other claims for the their accounts as soon as possible. Even if there are tests may be due to the fact that I have consistently solid for grounds requiring early rendering criticised the practice, at one time so conlmon in of such accounts stringently it would seem to be only fair that of all for of America, relying entirely purposes due intimation of this most unusual condition should mental diagnosis and prognosis on a Binet test be cummunicated to the practitioners concerned. alone. This attitude hasbeen twisted bv some to The matter is not one of interest to the medical mean that I believed that my test would do only. but also concerns the public very that was left undone by the Binet and that any profession since the result of failure to obtain payment examiner who was armed with a maze test and a seriously, under such circumstances has led medical pracBinet was thereby a clinical psychologist ! titioners to decline in future to attend cases on the Might I add that Dr. Healy’s work, and particularly summons of a midwife. It would be very unfortunate his attitude to mental testing in general, is to my if this state of affairs should continue or extend. trlind thoroughly admirable. In clinical work I I am, Sir, yours faithfully. believe in the adequacy of his method and I use HUGH WOODS. General Secretary, London and Counties Medical some of his tests. P.C. II. is a very valuable test, Protection Society, Ltd. and will occupy a permanent place in clinical Victory House, Leicester-square, London, W.C. 2, It differs considerably in nature examinations. May 19th. 1927. from the maze and as each has its value there the absence of ofticial warning as to the *In is no need for drawing invidious comparisons between refutations enacting the rendering of these accounts them. within two months, it is hoped that practitioners I am, Sir, yours faithfully, will make a careful note of the above communication. The need for promptness, insisted on by the Midwives S. D. PORTEUS, Acts. is due to the migratory nature of the constituency Professor of Clinical Psychology, University concerned.-—D. L. of Hawaii. March 16th, 1927.
approach
variously
everything