Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-05-20
QUESTIONS PUT 4
BY EDISON HELD
NOT TRUE TEST
Writer Concludes Specific
Knowledge Not ALWGys
Measure of Mentality.
BY VIRGINIA REYES.

4 test of intelligence which was COM
pounded by Thomas A. Edison for apph-
cants at his plant in Orange, N. J., has
been causing some comment and interest
among students of Butler College. Mr..
Edison bases his statement that college
graduates are very ignorant on the fact
that the majority of college men cannot
answer even a third of the questions
which he gives in his test. These ques-
lions concern geography, science, music.
literature, commerce, history, a few being
general and miscellaneous.
A short time ago a group Of applicants
for positions in the Edison plant were
turned loose on these seventy questions
and all failed. Among them was a Cor
nell graduate who managed to answer
half of them, that being the highest aver
age in the group. On trying it oAt among
Butler students it seems evident that
the college education itself cannot be
measured by this test, since one college
senior answered eight out Of the ises
one college junior fifteen; one sophie
more, twenty seven, and one freshman,
thirty.
CERTAIN QUESTIONS
READILY ANSWERED.
Among the college students It appeared
that nearly all could answer certain Ques-
lions and that none knew the answers
to others. For instance, none Of the
pupils knew what wood was used to make
kerosene oil barrels, nor was it appar-
ent to them just why they should know.
Likewise they were ignorant at what
point on the Atlantic coast the deepest
tide water was to be found or what good
it would do them If they did know.
On the other hand, practically all were
able to tell who Hannibal. Paul Revere
and Cleopatra were, who invented the
printing machine and the cotton gin and
who made the most wonderful violins in
the world. Many Of the pupils could
answer a couple of questions in every
field but none could answer all in any
one field.
The trouble is that no set of definite
questions can be devised which will be
a fair test Of a persons mentality
man may be of average or high inteln.
oence and yet hacause of his environment
or habits of life or education may not
have a lot of general knowledge which
will enable him to answer a list of ques-
lions over so wide range. On the other
hand, it may be that a person of high
Intelligence would spend the greater part
- time developing or specializing in
one line of work and so neglect to read
ellougn on other lines to be able to tell
the deepest point ever found in the ocean
or how fast light travels.
This is the type of question in the list
which requires specific knowledge and
no use of brain matter. A polly parzexs
can be taught to repeat the answers
inquiries of this sort, but will be entireiyM
ignorant of the meaning of the words i
says because it has not human intelliEs
gence Can we then measure a person
intelligence by his ability to answer az
group of questions? The man who is -
successful physician and well-known~
specialist is surely of high intelligence
even though he can only answer 60 2-S
per cent of set of questions devised by
another man. Perhaps the physician
could devise group OF queries in which
Edison himself would be found to be
deficient. fl.--l