Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/634

 620 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

One innovation at the present census looking toward the selec- tion of more competent field employees was an open competitive examination for the special agents who collect the statistics of manufactures, mines, and quarries. This examination was of a practical character, consisting in part of evidence r^arding the candidate's education and experience, and in part of the filling- out, from the description of a hypothetical manufacturing con- cern, of a schedule corresponding to that which the special agents will actually use in the field. In this connection it may be noted that we expect at the present census to specialize to some extent the work of the manufacturing agents, confining one set to one class of establishments and another set to another. This, how- ever, can be done within reasonable limits of expense only in a few large industrial centers. There will also be a more or less complete segregation of the work on mines and quarries from that on manufactures. Even this limited degree of specialization will, it is believed, serve to increase the efficiency of the field-work on these subjects.

In the second place, we are undertaking at the present census to exercise somewhat greater care in the examination of candi- dates for the position of enumerator of population and agri- culture than was exercised in 1900, In that year every candidate for the position of enumerator was required to take a written test, consisting of the filling-out of a sample population schedule from a description of a number of typical families and indi- viduals. The form of the test was satisfactory, and substantially the same will be used at the present census, with the addition of a test on the agricultural schedule in rural districts. In 1900, however, no precaution, other than the candidate's own state- ment, w^as taken to prevent him from securing assistance in preparing his test paper. The blanks were sent to the candidates at their homes, and they could fill them out at their leisure with- out any supervision. At the present census we propose to assemble the candidates at numerous convenient places through- out the country and require them to prepare the test paper in the presence of examiners.

This examination, although open to everyone, is not strictly