The evening world., 1919-09-27

When certain members of the O.
mel in the Army started in the fail Of
1917 70 make trade tests which could
be used in the army to pick men with
real trade ability. they found that no
one had ever thought about how to
write a question that would be an
swered in such way that two or
moro people could agree on the COR
rectness OF the answer. Questions
we're sent to them by Civil Service
Commissioners, employment manag-
ers, factory superintendents, schools,
colleges and all other possible sources,
but not one OF these had paid any
attention TO the science OF wording a
question. 1t took the Trade Test
Division six months TO find out how,
and another six months to do 1t righ:,
and then the war endedj so now the
employment man should see that he
benefits from the experience.
Most questions have a long explana-
tion for an answer which needs an ex-
pert to deciphcr. Here are a few ex-
amples Of those received by the Di-
vision of Trade Tests. The answers
will have TO be left to your imagina-
tion as space is limited.
I. FOR AUTO MECHANICS
What is the general construction OF
rear axles?
2. BLUE PRINTER-EIplain the
entire process of making blue prints
3. CABINET MAKER-What is the
difference between a block plane and
a smoothing plane?
4. COPPER sMITH-Should a pipe
be hot or cold when bent. II sand is
used as a filler?
Let us SEQ how these same ideas
could be expressed In such form that
there would be only ono word in the
answer.
1. What is the typo OF axle called
where the entire load Is carried by the
housing? Answer: Full floating. II
a mechanic knows that you can be
sure he knows all about asles.
2. What chemical is used in the
water in which the print Is washed
after being exposed7 Answer: Bicro-
mate OF potash.
5. What plane do you use to plane
Q stick across the grain? Answer:
Block.
4. This question as given has q
guess answer which is naturally
valueless, as any one has flfty-fifty
chance OF getting 1t right II should
be woTded: With what do YOU fiji a
piece OF copper pipe when 1t Is bent
hot? Answer: Sand.
In the corrected form OF the ques-
ton any person who could read
could tell whether the answer re-
ceived was correct or Incorrect be-
cause there Is only the one possible
right answer.
The secret Of the trade question
and of all questions which have an
exact answer Is this. Know the exact
word you want for the answer before
you frame the question and then word
the question so that 1t can have nc
II is the exact reverse Of dictionary
There the word is given and then de-
flned. In a trade question the wore
or name or number Is defined anc
must be given to be q correct re-
snunse to the definition. The word
ing OF the question must be exact
FIR example: How do you drive {
nall7 The answer would most likel!
be, with a hammer" hut 1t could be
straight" with the blows on tn
heed" with my right hand;" thos
a.e all possibly correct II the ques
ton is worded. with what tool is
nail usually driven ?"-the answe
must be, "hammcr" The woT'
how is not definite enough, In tn
work of the Trade Test Division
hours were spent to get the wordin
OF questions SO that they were foo
proof.
The following rules are the mos
important and IL studied will be help
full in avoiding the most common d!f
ficulties.
1. DO not use a catch question. Fo
example; What kind Of lubricant l
used when turning cast ironG" Tn
answer would be; mo lubricant.
Such questions antagonize the trades
man.
?. DO not Use a question with
guess answer, For example; 20
what side Of the horse do YOU stan
when you put ON the harness." tn
answer must be either right" q
'1eft" ands therefore, is OF no valu'
Another form OF guess question Is "a
~. . with the yes" or ''no" answer.