A Study of the Downy Test by the Method of Estimates.

Abstract

The growing interest which has been evinced in the Downey Will-Profile 1 (Will-Temperament Test) since its publication in 1919 is perhaps attributable to the current interest in tests which may serve to supplement the measures of general intelligence, and to the fact that it is the most systematic attempt yet made in the appraisal of temperamental qualities. This field of volitional and temperamental measurement presents complex and difficult problems, so that it seems somewhat unlikely that any test will ever sample the variables which constitute temperament, with a high degree of certainty. The study reported herein 2 is an attempt to ascertain the degree of reliability which this promising test possesses.A consideration of the previous studies of the test 3 gives a variety of conclusions concerning the value of the test, and reveals certain limitations and shortcomings in procedure, unforeseen at the time, from which this study has profited. Space limitations forbid a critical review, but the points of departure will be found in the context. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Two procedures may be followed to secure data upon the reliability of the test. The first consists of giving other objective tests of known validity that would provide measures of traits similar to or identical

A Survey of Educational Research in 1923

“…IS In one of the two remaining university studies Jesse B. Davis tried to show that college-entrance requirements were a hindrance to progressive movements in the public schools of New England,S while in the other, Edmonson and Mulder concluded that instruction was as effective in a class of 150 students as in a class of 50. 7 If these latter results are substantiated by further investigation, they are highly significant.…”

Rating scales with special references to the field of child development.

“…Magson's (70) scale is illustrative of this. The scale has also been combined with various other types of rating methods such as the graphic (78).…”

“…There is a whole field of literature on the use of ratings to test the validity of the Downey Will-Temperament series. Among these may be cited the work of Ruch and Del Manzo (97), Meier (78), and Bryant (19,20).…”

The present status of the will-temperament tests.

“…This group of 28 were given the Downey tests and were rated on the Downey traits according to the descriptions of the traits taken verbatim from her manual. The correlations between test score and the pooled ratings are: Meier (15) gave the Downey individual tests to 106 high school students, sexes evenly divided, ages running from 13 to 20. Three judges rated each pupil for the twelve Downey traits on a "man-to-man" type of rating scale.…”