Page:Philosophical Review Volume 2.djvu/270



The second meeting of the American Psychological Association was held at Philadelphia, on the invitation of the University of Pennsylvania, Dec. 27 and 28, 1892. The intended three sessions were increased to four, in view of the number of contributions sent in. At the first, four papers were read: Errors of Observation in Physics and Psychology, by Prof. J. McK. Cattell; Certain Phenomena of Rotation, by Dr. H. Nichols; Tactile Estimates of Thickness, by Prof. E. Pace; and Some Experiments upon the Æsthetics of Visual Form, by Prof. L. Witmer. Prof. Fullerton, who was associated with Prof. Cattell in the investigation of the Perception of Small Differences, to which the latter's communication had reference, spoke at some length upon its results. Prof. Witmer's remarks, which were continued at the opening of the second session, called forth a dis- cussion. The remaining papers read on this day were: Experimental Psychology at the World's Fair, by Prof. J. Jastrow; History and Prospects of Experimental Psychology in America, by Pres. G. S. Hall.

On the morning of the 28th, the order was: Note upon the Controversy Regarding the Relation of the Intensity of the Stimulus to the Reaction- time, by Prof. W. M. Bryan; Minor Studies at the Psychological Labora- tory of Clark University, by Dr. E. C. Sanford; Experimental Psychology at Cambridge, by Prof. Münsterberg; and Preliminary Notes upon Psychological Tests in the Schools of Springfield, Mass., by Prof. W. M. Bryan. Dr. Münsterberg's views of the aims and methods of the new Psychology were criticised by Prof. Cattell.

At the last sitting, there were presented: Experiments upon Pain, by Dr. H. Nichols; Demonstration of Apparatus, etc., by Dr. E. C. Sanford; Psychology and Anthropology, by Prof. Chamberlain; On Causation, by Dr. Aikens; A new Instrument for the Control of Chronometrical Experiments, and Investigations of the Reaction-times of Various Classes of Persons, by Prof. L. Witmer.

The meetings were presided over by Pres. G. S. Hall. If this fact ensured their success from the point of view of scientific work, the generous hospitality of city and university did no less on the social side. This year the association will come together in New York, under the auspices of the Columbia University, with Prof. Ladd as chairman.

. Rh