Part 39 (2/2)
REMARKS For discussion of test, see XII, 5
AVERAGE ADULT, 3: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ABSTRACT TERMS
PROCEDURE Say: _What is the difference between_:--
(a) _Laziness and idleness?_ (b) _Evolution and revolution?_ (c) _Poverty and misery?_ (d) _Character and reputation?_
SCORING _Three correct contrasting definitions out of four_ are necessary for a pass It is not sufficientfor each word of a pair; the subject must point out a difference between the tords so as to make a real contrast For exaradual change,” and _revolution_ as the turning of a wheel on its axis, the experimenter should say: ”_Yes, but I want you to tell me the difference between evolution and revolution_” If the contrast is not then forthco are sample definitions which may be considered acceptable:--
(a) _Laziness and idleness_ ”It is laziness if you won't work, and idleness if you are willing to work but haven't any job” ”Lots of men are idle who are not lazy and would like to work if they had so to do” ”Lazinessanything just now” ”Idle people may be lazy, or they may just happen to be out of a job” ”It is laziness when you don't like to work, and idleness when you are not working” ”An idle personto work; a lazy man won't work” ”Laziness comes from within; idleness may be forced upon one” ”Laziness is aversion to activity; idleness is simply the state of inactivity”
”Laziness is idleness fro”
The essential contrast, accordingly, is that _laziness refers to unwillingness to work; idleness to the mere fact of inactivity_
This contrast must be expressed, however cluradual change; revolution is a sudden change” ”Evolution is natural development; revolution is sudden upheaval” ”Evolutionor develop” ”Evolution is the gradual develope of government” ”Evolution takes place by natural force; a revolution is caused by an outside force” ”Evolution is growth; revolution is a quick change froe; revolution is a violent change” ”Evolution is growth step by step; revolution is e brought about by peaceful develop”
The essential distinction, accordingly, is that _evolution e, while revolutiondefinitions, even when the individual terms are defined correctly, are not satisfactory
(c) _Poverty and ” ”Only the poor are in poverty, but everybody can be e of poorness; misery means pain” ”The poor are not always miserable, and the rich are miserable sometimes” ”Povertyor anguish” ”The poor are in poverty; the sick are invery poor financially;which any class of people can have” ”One who is poor is in poverty; one who is wretched or doesn't enjoy life is in misery” ”Poverty comes from lack of money; misery, from lack of happiness or comfort” ”Misery s”
(d) _Character and reputation_ ”Character is what you are; reputation is what people say about you” ”You have character if you are honest; but youpeople who e you” ”Character is your real self; reputation is the opinion people have about you”
”Your character depends upon yourself; reputation depends on what others think of you” ”Character means your real morals; reputation is the way you are known in the world” ”A ood character if he would not do evil; but a ood reputation and still have a bad character”
A little practice and a good deal of discri of responses to this test Subjects are often so clu but clear It is then necessary to ask the, however, is not per it is necessary to bear in iven must, in order to be satisfactory, express the essential distinction between the tords
REMARKS What we have said regarding the psychological significance of test 2, year XII, applies equally well here The test on the whole is a valuable one Our statistics show that it is not, as so
The main criticism to be made is that it ie expression For this reason it is necessary in scoring to disregard clumsiness of expression and to look only to the essential correctness or incorrectness of the thought
This test first appeared in year XIII of Binet's 1908 scale The terms used were ”happiness and honor”; ”evolution and revolution”; ”event and advent”; ”poverty and misery”; ”pride and pretension” In the 1911 revision, ”happiness and honor” and ”pride and pretension” were dropped, and the other three pairs wererequired for a pass Kuhl ”happiness and honor” instead of our ”character and reputation,” and requires three successes out of five
AVERAGE ADULT, 4: PROBLEM OF THE ENCLOSED BOXES
PROCEDURE Show the subject a cardboard box about one inch on a side
Say: ”_You see this box; it has two smaller boxes inside of it, and each one of the smaller boxes contains a little tiny box Howone?_” To be sure that the subject understands repeat the statee box, then two smaller ones, and each of the smaller ones contains a little tiny box_”