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{"created":"2022-01-31T15:33:59.444504+00:00","id":"lit23175","links":{},"metadata":{"alternative":"Studies from the Yale Psychological Laboratory","contributors":[{"name":"Scripture, E. W.","role":"author"}],"detailsRefDisplay":"Studies from the Yale Psychological Laboratory 2: 122-124","fulltext":[{"file":"p0122.txt","language":"en","ocr_en":"TESTS OF MENTAL ABILITY AS EXHIBITED IN FENCING,\nBY\nE. W. Scripture.\nThe visit of several expert swordsmen to Yale furnished the opportunity for some experiments on their rapidity and accuracy in some of the fundamental movements of fencing.\nThe first experiment included a determination of the simple reaction-time and of the time of muscular movements. The fencer stood ready to lunge, with the point of the foil resting to one side against a metal disc. \u00c0 flexible conducting cord, fastened to the handle of the foil, hung in a loop from the back of the neck. A large metal disc was placed against the wall directly in front of the fencer at a distance of '75cm. Just above this disc was a small piece of paper which could be moved by an operator, standing a distance away. A movement of the paper was the signal upon which the lunge was executed. The movement of the paper was accomplished by a single movement of an electric switch. The spark-method of recording was so arranged that the primary circuit passed through the electric switch, a spark-coil, the flexible conducting cord, the foil and either one of the two discs. Every make and.break of this circuit made a spark-record on the drum. As long as the foil rested against the small disc the current was closed. The movement of the switch broke the circuit for an instant, making a record of the moment of stimulus. The first movement of the foil broke the circuit at the small disc, making a record of the moment of reaction. The striking of the foil against the large disc made a third record. The time between the first and second records gave the simple reactiontime; that between the second and third gave the time of movement through the given distance. About 10 experiments were made on each person.\nIn the second experiment there was one piece of paper each above, beside and below the direction of the foil. The point of the foil\n1 Bliss, Researches on reaction-time and attention, Stud. Yale Psy. Lab., 1892-1893 I 1 (8, 14).","page":122},{"file":"p0123.txt","language":"en","ocr_en":"Mental ability as exhibited in fencing.\n123\nrested against the small disc. The movement of any one of these was the signal for a corresponding movement of the foil. The papers were moved in irregular succession. Acts of discrimination and choice were thus introduced into the reaction-time. The movement of any one of the pieces of paper and of the foil away from the disc gave records as before. The time required can be called the reaction-time with discrimination. About 10 experiments were made on each person.\nThe last experiment consisted of lunging at the center of a paper target 8cm in diameter. The average distance of the seven best lunges was taken.\nThe persons experimented upon consisted of Dr. Graeme Hammond, Dr. Echverria, Dr. P. F. O\u2019Connor and Mr. Shaw, all expert amateur fencers, A. Jacobi, master of arms of the New York Athletic Club, Prof. Ladd, formerly practised in fencing, and Prof. Williams, with no knowledge of fencing.\nThe results were:\n1.\tSimple reaction-time: Echverria, 173CT; Williams, 186CT; Hammond, 187CT; Ladd, 225er; Jacobi, 231er; Shaw, 233er; O\u2019Connor, 256er.\n2.\tTime of muscular movement involved in the lunge through 75\u2122 : Jacobi, 267\u201d; O\u2019Connor, 294\"; Echverria, 306er; Shaw, 322er ; Hammond, 323er; Ladd, 517er; Williams, 568er.\n3.\tReaction-time with discrimination: Hammond, 221er; Ladd, 237\"; Williams, 254er; Jacobi, 289\"; Echverria, 304er; Shaw, 357er; O\u2019Connor, 362er.\n4.\tAverage distance of seven best lunges from center: Shaw, 18ram; Hammond, 20mm; Ladd, 2imm; O\u2019Connor, 22mm; Jacobi, 24mm; Echverria, 23mm; Williams, 36mm.\nThe experiments probably derive their chief value as calling attention to the experimental study of the psychological elements involved in games, sports, gymnastics and all sorts of athletic work. Without experimenting on large numbers of fencers and others, I would not attempt to make any quantitative comparisons between the two. The following qualitative conclusions seem, however, to be fully justified.\n1.\tThe possibility of analyzing fencing movements into their mental and bodily elements, and of measuring these elements, has been proven.\n2.\tThe average fencer is not quicker in simple reaction (where a few mental elements are involved), than a trained scientist, and neither class shows an excessive rapidity.","page":123},{"file":"p0124.txt","language":"en","ocr_en":"124\nM W Scripture.\n3.\tWhen once the mind is made up to execute a movement, fencers are far quicker in the actual execution. In rough figures, it takes them only half as long as the average individual.\n4.\tAs the mental process becomes more complicated, the time inquired by the average fencer is greater than that required by a trained scientist. The shortest time of all, however, is that of Dr. Hammond, whose mental quickness has probably been developed in some other way.\n5.\tThe general conclusion seems to be that fencing does not develop mental quickness more than scientific pursuits, but it does develop to a high degree the rapidity of executing movements. It would be important to determine if this holds good of the other sports and exercises, or if some of them are especially adapted to training mental quickness.","page":124}],"identifier":"lit23175","issued":"1894","language":"en","pages":"122-124","startpages":"122","title":"Tests of mental ability as exhibited in fencing","type":"Journal Article","volume":"2"},"revision":0,"updated":"2022-01-31T15:33:59.444510+00:00"}