Citation

Reed HB. J. Exp. Psychol. 1924; 7(3): 186-200.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1924, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0074912

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The effect of equal practice or education on individual differences is usually measured either by noting the amount of work per unit of time or the amount of time per unit of work. Both methods are equally valid for measuring efficiency, but at the same time each method leads to a different result. The former tends to increase, whereas the latter tends to reduce the initial individual differences. It follows then that both measures are invalid as an index of effect of equal training. The proper measure of the effect of training on individual differences is the ratio of the high scores to the low scores at the beginning and at the end of practice. The application of this method of measuring to the results of experiments devised to study the effect of practice on different initial abilities shows that practice decreases the individual differences, a result contrary to the view held by certain leading psychologists, viz, that equal training increases individual differences. From Psych Bulletin 22:05:00430. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)