Dotting machine, England, 1920-1940
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The dotting machine tested accident proneness in industrial workers. It was used by psychologists May Smith and Millais Culpin of the Industrial Fatigue Research Board. This research body originally studied the health of munitions workers during the First World War. It was hoped that the machine could reduce industrial accidents by weeding out the accident prone. The person being tested marked each dot with a pencil through the slit in the box lid, while the paper turned on a record player turntable. This separated people into two categories: those who persisted as the rate of rotation increased towards the centre of the spiral dots (the accident prone), and those who gave up. The dotting machine was manufactured by Edgar Schuster in England.
Object number:
1981-1392
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: mechanical aptitude test
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Glossary: psychology
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Glossary: psychometric test
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