Review of New methods in applied psychology

Abstract

Reviews the book, New methods in applied psychology by George A. Kelly (1947). The title creates the illusion of a systematic and comprehensive treatment. The long sub-title indicates the more modest nature of the volume which represents the "Proceedings of the Maryland Conference on Military Contributions to Methodology in Applied Psychology held at the University of Maryland, November 27-28, 1945 under the auspices of the Military Division of the American Psychological Association." The volume leaves the impression that American psychology was methodologically well prepared to meet the problems posed by the war emergency. This does not mean that the specific techniques were always at hand. However, the training in sound research methods gave the psychologists a mental equipment with which to create the tools for attacking a given problem. One area, in particular, which witnessed a creative expansion of the study of behavior into a largely new phase of "human engineering" was the field of experimental testing of military equipment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)