T HE present study is a verification and extension of the work of Seashore and Adams (11) and of Spaeth and Dunham (12) Seashore and Adams administered a battery of steadiness tests (Miles ataxiameter (9), Beall and Hall ataxiagraph (1), the Seashore modification of Whipple steadiness test (14) for both "position"' and "thrusting"' steadiness, and Adams' modification of the Gates (5) rifle steadiness test) to an average of fifty unselected subjects. The mtereorrelations of the steadiness test scores ranged from + .44 to -r 59, the median being + .48. This level of intercorrelation was interpreted as being indicative of a "general steadiness factor " Six members of a university rifle team were also tested and compared with the unselected group With but one exception, the rifle team members surpassed the steadiest person in the unselected group. On the individual test the riflemen placed consistently at the level of the 8th, 9th, and 10th deciles of the unselected group The ranks of the riflemen on the steadiness battery coincided '' almost perfectly'' with thenranks in actual intercollegiate competition. Spaeth and Dunham tested seventy-three U S. Army marksmen, ranging from "expert" to "unqualified" in classification. They used the Dunlap modification (3) of the Whip pie Steadiness Test ( 14) The rank-order coefficient of correlation between steadiness scores and target scores was + .61 ± 11. As they pointed out, this may be because practice on the rifle range improves steadiness, or because steadiness underlies the development of skill m rifle shooting. Tearing (4) and others have shown that practice in a steadiness test produces improvement in such peri The study was carried on under the direction of Dr. Taylor Mr. Buxton assisted with the testing and statistical treatment. Acknowledgments are also due Dr R H Seashore for pertinent suggestions 680
SEX DIFFERENCES IN GAINS AND INTERFERENCE* Differences on the first task might occur because of differences in adjustment to the situation. It frequently is true that women are more disturbed than men when faced with a pursuit rotor, and the differences in scores might disappear after these first adjustment problems were overcome. However, the greater gain made by men during the first practice on the rotor would carry over to keep them superior to the women after the interpolated period.
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