The validity of ratings of behavior, provided that two conditions arc met, has been fairly generally accepted. These conditions are that there be several competent judges, 1 and that they have ample opportunity to observe the behavior being rated. For the past two summers the writer has been in a situation where both of these conditions were adequately met. Data were gathered of such a nature that ratings could be compared with more objective measures of the same behaviors; and enough raters were available so that a study of the uniformity of the ratings could be made.The subjects for each of the studies here reported were thirty problem boys who had been sent for study and treatment to a summer camp maintained through the cooperation of Western Reserve University and the Child Guidance Clinic of Cleveland, Ohio. The boys remained for a period of five weeks where they were under the constant observation of a psychiatrist and of six or more counselors trained in psychology and mental hygiene.The first summer, in connection with another experiment, the attempt was made to validate certain "objective" measures of problem boy behavior by comparing them with ratings on the same behavior. The results were such as to make the experimenter conclude that the ratings were themselves being validated. The evidence, however, was rather meager, and it was decided to gather fuller data concerning the same problem. IIDuring the first summer a daily record was kept of "specifically remembered incidents" included under twenty-six different behaviors. 2 1 Note particularly Rugg, H. O.: Is the Rating of Human Character Possible?
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