| Summary: | Although the several fields of psychology seem already to be over-endowed with textbooks, the author has felt for a decade the lack of a single, elementary volume, introductory to the psychological problems of business and industry. In emphasizing facts and instruments for which some measure of dependability is available, the author is following a course in which he has been encouraged both by psychologists and by men in various phases of industry. There is no intention to suggest that items of known dependability are superior to those derived from daily contact with practice. The author believes, however, that both psychology and industry will gain if these two types of raw materials are separated and assigned their proper places. In presenting this thesis, the author hopes that the reader will judge the basic conception of the book in the light of the total bulk of evidence, and not weigh too heavily the shortcomings of any individual experimental or statistical item. When dozens and sometimes hundreds of examples are available for a single point, there is small reason to believe that any reader will always agree with the selection any author may make. If the reader objects that certain of the generalizations or instruments discussed leave much to be desired, the author can only concur. There is much research to be done, and it is to be hoped that reviews of this sort will aid by pointing out those fields in which the need for controlled observation is greatest. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved).
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