ABSTRACT
In recent years there has been a tendency to look upon the social consequences and the "relevance" of scientific discoveries and theories, and to raise questions concerning these. The case of the mental testing of children to determine placement in educable mentally retarded classes raises similar complex issues. The uses of intelligence quotient and ability testing in general in other directions, such as army selection, vocational guidance, and industry have already been discussed; nobody nowadays would be willing to dispute their practical utility in preventing round pegs from being put into square holes. It is sometimes objected that testing of this kind may prevent a person from obtaining a job, and that this is socially undesirable; it should always be borne in mind that this is true of any selection method whatever, and that psychological tests have been shown to make fewer mistakes than any other techniques available.
