A Critical Examination of the Relationship of Certain Factors to Achievement in the Physical Test Employed in the Formation of the Eligible List for the Fire Department of the City of New York in 1941

95 Pages·03.676 MB·English

by  Spitz, George Berton, Jr

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! .E3 Spitz, George Berton, 1912-
1942 A critical examination of the rela-
.S75 tionship of certain factors to achieve­
ment in the physical test employed in
the formation of the eligible list for
the Fire department of the city of New
York in 1941... New York, 1942.
vi,cl3,84 typewritten leaves, tables,
diagrs.,form. 29cm.
Final document (Ed.D.) - New York
university, School of education, 1942.
B ib 1 i ographys.- p. 54.
AE9440 { ;
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Xerox University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106
THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED.
Pinal Document
Accepted, rinfo JUL 23 1942
A CRITICAL EXAMINATION 07 THE RELATIONSHIP 07
CERTAIN 7ACT0RS TO ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PHYSICAL TEST
B4PL0YED IN THE FORMATION 07 THE ELIGIBLE LIST 70R THE
7IRE DEPARTMENT 07 THE CITY 07 NEV YORE IN 1941
GEORGE B. SPITZ, JR,
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Doctor of
Eduoation In the School of Sduoation of
New York University
1948
PLEASE NOTE:
Some pages may have
indistinct print.
Filmed as received.
University Microfilms, A Xerox Education Company
11
PHEFACK
The field of Tests and Measurements in Physical Educa-
/
tion is a sincere attempt by man to objectively measure phy­
sical attributes affording a scientific basis for analysis
and study. Many tests have become "standardized" through
proof of reliability, accurate explanation of what they
measure, and extensive use. 1
It has been the privilege of the writer to have been a
Municipal Civil Service Commission physical examiner for the
past four years. During this time, three major tests were
given: the Police Department in 19S9, the Sanitation Depart­
ment in 1940, and the Eire Department in 1941. In 1941, as
examiner-in-oharge, the writer was afforded excellent oppor­
tunity for intimate observation of the test from every stand­
point.
Possibly from an academic background somewhat heavy in
the sciences or more probably from any number of things more
intangible, the writer has always been interested in the "why"
of things. To that sometimes troublesome inquisitiveness can
be attributed the origin of this paper.
It is a pleasure to write of Mr. Paul Kern, President of
the Munioipal Civil Servioe Commission during the years of
these tests. It was he, who stimulated the improvement in
the testing program making every effort toward objeotivity
and the scientific approach. It was he, who instituted the
appointments of three physical eduoators from eaoh of the
A89440
iii
municipal oolleges, people whose profession it was and
people vitally interested, to aot as examiners. It was
also he, who not only granted permission for this investi­
gation but gave his fullest cooperation in allowing full
acoess to all necessary records. May I thank Mr. Kern and
his associates for their assistance.
Mr. Paul M. Brennan, Examiner-in-Charge of the Medioal-
Physioal Unit, also has the deep gratitude of the writer for
his assistance in the collection of some of the necessary
information for this study as well as for his splendid
guidance and sage reasoning.
Dr. Raymond Franzen was of infinite assistance in organi­
zing the work for this study. May I also thank him for his
"down to earth" and practical aid in the statistical approach.
May I thank my chairman, Professor Jay B. Nash, for his
cooperation as well as for his stimulating guidance and
friendly aid not only in the writing of this paper but during
all the years of my graduate study.
To Professor Julius Yourman and Professor H. P. Smith,
the other members of my sponsoring committee, I extend my
sincere expression of gratitude for their assistance in the
reading and analysis of my outline and thesis.
It '
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
Page
Introduction ......... . . . 1
The Civil Servioe Pioture • • • • • • • . • • ........ 1
Purpose of the Study • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • 3
Statement of Problem • • • • • • • • • ......... 4
Seope of the Study • • • ......... 6
CHAPTER II
History ............. 9
Early Procedures • • • • . . . • • • • • • • 9
Transitional Period . . . • • • • • 10
Modem Testing.............................. 11
Description of the Test . . . • • ..........• • • • • • 12
CHAPTER III
Procedure ....................................... 15
Information Necessary ............................ 15
Sources and Collection of Data • • • . . . • • • • • • 15
Reliability of Data......... 17
Organization for Analysis • • • . • • . • • • • • • • • 20
Summary • • • • • • ...................... • • • • • 22
CHAPTER IT
Tfcfi. RftlattPBghlP St Pate Of Test jjo Parfornumoa
AgQOrfllnfi JtSL B o ™ " * * ..................... 24
The Outlook for Interpretation • • . . . • • • • • • • 24
The Borough Influenoe • • • » • • • • • • • • • • • • • 26
Further Analysis of the Bronx Results ......... • 27
Interpretation of the Bronx Results ........... 28
Summary ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
CHAPTER 7
Ilift Ralatlqagftll? St Faotors Igo Parfogmanoa ££
PE9.9idja» MflRhflttflB. ayasaa, and Richmond. Candidates . . . . 31
Date of Taking the Test « • • • • • • • • • • ........ 31
The Faotor-Perfoxmanoe Relationships • • • • • • • • • 31
The Outlook for Further Analysis • • • • • • • • • • • 32
Summary ......... 33
V
CHAPTER VI
Page
Tfca Relationship S il MS. SSL iSSiSSBSSSS.
In the Parts of the Test................ 34
The Faotor-Performanoe Relationships • • • • • • • • • 34
Interpretation of the Teat by Part • • • • • • • • • • 35
Summary................................... 37
CHAPTER VII
Tfafi Effeot st£ Rain Upon Physloal Test Result?............. 40
The Method of Comparison ................... 40
The Chi-square Comparisons • . ......... 41
Summary • • • • • • • • • • • ....................... 43
CHAPTER VIII
SiimfflBTv O pnPM diQ flg • 45
Findings • • • • • • • ................. . . . . . . . 45.
Deductions.......... 47
CHAPTER IX
SisamMloa 8S&R ecommendations.......... 49
Further Study . . . ............................. 49
Suggestions........... 50
Bibliography ........... 54
AittMflfllZ • • •.. ............................ 55
Tables............................. 56-78
Graphs • • • • • • • ....................... . • • • • 79-84
vi
T^gyis
Page
1 Causes of Medical Rejections in the Fire Test, 1941 • • • 56
2 Causes for Conditional Rejections .................. . 57
3 Coordination Test - Marking Scale • • • • • • • • • • • 58
4. Strength Test - Marking Scale • .............. • • • • 59
5 Agility Test - Marking Scale ............ • ........ 60
6 Endurance Test - Marking Scale.................... 60
7 Physical Test Record Card .......... • • • • • • • • • 61
8 Data Collection Card .......... • • • • • • ........ 62
9 Weight Collection Letter ............ . . . . . . . . 63
10 Chi-square Formulas .................... • .......... 64
11 Chi-square of the Physioal Averages of Group I and
Group II .................................. . 65
12 Chi-square of the Date of Taking the Test of Group I
and Group II • • • • • • • • • • • • • .............. 66
13 Chi-square of the Mental Marks of Group I and Group II • 67
14 Chi-square of the Age of Group I and Group II ........ • 68
15 Chi-square of the Height of Group I and Group II • • . • . 69
16 Chi-square of the Weight of Group I and Group II • • • • 70
17 Sample C-D Hand Correlation Chart .• ................ • 71
18 Chi-square of Parts I and II, All Group I and All
Rain Recalls...................................... 72
19 Chi-square of Parts III and IF, All Group I and
All Rain Recalls • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 73
20 Chi-square of Parts I and II, Bronx of Group I
and Bronx of Rai* Reoalls ........................ . • 74
21 Chi-square of Parts H I and IF, Bronx of Group I
and Bronx of Rain Reoalls .................. . 75
22 Chi-square of Parts I and II, Other Four Boroughs
of Group I and Same of Rain Reoalls............ • 76
23 Chi-square of Parts III and IF, Other Four Boroughs
of Group I and Same of Rain Reoalls ................ . 77
24 Means, Medians, Extremes, and Ranges • • • • • • • • • 78
GRAPHS
1 Parts I and II, All Group I and All Rain Reoalls • • . 79
2. Parts III and IF, All Group I and All Rain Reoalls . • 80
3 Parts I and II, Bronx of Group I and Bronx of Rain
Reoalls . . . ........................................ 81
4 Parts III and IF, Bronx of Group I and Bronx of Rain
Reoalls • • • • • .............. .......... ........ 82
5 Parts I and II, Other Four Boroughs of Group I and
Same of Rain Reoalls • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 83
6 Parts H I and IF, Other Four Boroughs of Group I and
Same of Rain Reoalls .................. ............. 84
A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF
CERTAIN FACTORS TO ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PHYSICAL TEST
EMPLOYED IN THE FORMATION OF THE ELIGIBLE LIST FOR THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORE IN 1941