Walter Dill Scott, Applied Psychologist

Walter Dill Scott (May 1, 1869 - September 24, 1955) was an American psychologist and one of the first applied psychologists. While he was teaching at Northwestern University, he was approached by an advertising executive looking for ideas to make advertising more effective. He turned his attention to this area and composed the book The Psychology of Advertising in Theory and Practice in 1903. In 1917 Scott approached the army, offering to help them by applying psychological principles to personnel selection. Although some of his contacts were skeptical, they did decide to incorporate some of his methods and awarded him the Distinguished Service Medal. His personnel selection methods included tests to measure desirable characteristics and rating scales to rate applicants on necessary skills and attributes (appearance, demeanor, neatness, judgment, accuracy). In 1900 he was appointed instructor of psychology at Northwestern University. In 1905, he was made a professor and head of the department of psychology. In 1909, he was appointed professor of advertising in the School of Commerce at Northwestern University and in 1912, professor of applied psychology. In 1920, he was elected president of Northwestern University and served until 1939. He died in 1955 at the age of 86

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Dill Distinguished Psychologist Psychology

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