METHODS OF MEASURING EMOTIONAL STABILITY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-00434A000300060025-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 4, 2000
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: March 14, 1951
• Content Type: MEMO

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March 14, 1951
MEMORANDL W TO: Dr.. John Tist jez
SUBJECT: Methods of Measuring Emotional Stability
Since our recent conversation, I have made extensive
inquiries into the methods used for determining emotional
stability. As numerous researches were made towards the
determination of this subject during World War II and no
satisfactory method of determination was made, As far as
I can determine, at the present time there is no generally
accepted method which may be employed for this purpose.
There has been no validation of any of the tests employed.
For the purpose of assisting in the determination of
emotional stability of prospective employees in your organ-
ization, we, therefore, have no precedent. I would, there-
fore, suggest the followings
A. I will continue to look into the methods previously
employed in the hope of finding one suitable and
practical for employment by us.
~. That we set up an experimental battery of standard
tests for the purpose of evaluating their usefulness
in the selection of personnel from the standpoint
of their emotional stability, and run a series of
at least one-hundred such tests. For this purpose,
I would suggest (1) Cornell Index, Form N,
(2) Heston Personal Adjustment Inventory,
(3) Minnesota Personality Scale and (4) Personality
Inventory.
C. That there should be a personal psychiatric interview
on each of these individuals for the purpose of
comparing results of this interview with the results
of the psychological examinations.
That the same psychological tests be given to one-
hundred employees who have established their ability
to do a good job.
E. If possible, to give psychiatric interviews to these
employees who have established emotional stability.
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Since the combined efforts of all agencies have failed
to produce a satisfactory method of establishing emotional
stability, such an experiment as that outlined above would
be of value only in determining the most useful method,
immediately available to us for screening employees, while
we continue to investigate more satisfactory and objective
methods.
I believe that it would be better, instead of having
the results of the psychological tests available to the
psychiatrist at the time of his examination, that he make
his examination independently and then his opinion be com-
pared to the test results. In this way, we would have
available a comparison of the value of the psychiatrist's
opinion as compared to the test results.
If this plan were to be adopted, I believe that the
following preliminary preparation would be useful:
To tag at least ten patients to determine the rate
at which they pass through the clinic and the
length of time they spend in each office. This
would be of value to us in determining where the
psychiatrist may best make his examination and
where, in the examination, the test may be given.
Assign some individual to the project so that he
can be instructed in advance in the method of
scoring tests and classifying material.
C. The test materials are available through the
Psychological Corporation of America. A copy of
their catalogue is attached hereto which includes
instructions in ordering and the description and
price of each test. It should be noted that on
the Minnesota Personality Scale there are separate
forms for men and women.
Not included above but possibly useful in determin-
ation of homosexuality, is the Attitude Interest
Analysis Test. This would add almost an hour to
the examination but, at least in this experimental
battery it might have a value.
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