Evening star., 1933-09-10

ability in this field and the highest authoThy.
A IL others in the group listed received marks
above So Einstein the only college pro-
fessor in the group, did not by any means
receive the highest rating. His 61.5 was ex-
ceeded by Hoover's 64.2 and by Theodore
Soosevelts 713 Did Roosevelt receive 10
points more because he could make himself
understood more easily?
Most students found 1t difficult to attribute
to these men great knowledge of so humble q
field agriculture, and yet it may be as
sumed that most Of these men are quite az
conversant with agriculture as with education.
Only Hoover and Roosevelt were given
ratings high as so in this field. Lindbergh
was rated PAT, Morgan 29.5, Edison $50,
Pershing $50 and Einstein 299.
The highest average rating in any field WAS
given to Gen. Pershing, who was given SS.4 In
military affairs. He is evidently considered to
be nearer the height of his profession than
any other member of the group.
Military glory still seems to- be the best type
for gaining wide popular recognition. DR..
Bowden commented Caesar is probably bet
ter known than Plato or Aristotle, and Ma
poleon better known for the number of lives
he wasted than Pasteur for the host he has
saved from untimely death
Likewise. none of the seven in this
study ranked high in any field as did Gen.
Pershing in the field Of military affairs. The
followed by Theodore Roosevelt in government
and craftsmanship but it will be remembered
that both of the latter carried the military
rank of colonel Roosevelt was recognized not
only as a statesman but also fighter"
These three men received very high ratings
in military affairs. The other four who were
not considered expert in their own fields.
were given low ratings in military affairs.
Incidentally, it is interesting to note that
Hoover's best field was considered engineering.
<lHvx
below the highest ratings Of the other six men
In government and craftsmanship he was given
rating of 67.2.
Despite the tendency to be guided by blind
hero worship in the rating of great men. DR..
Bowden did find that the students used judg-
ment in making the evaluations.
Following up this study Of the authority and
prestige accorded to great men. the same group
of Investigators decided to find out to what
extent the public is svayed by the opinions Of
groups of people in certain classes-to what
extent they follow what they believe is the
opinion Of business men, educators, law
yers. and SO on
TO test this reliance on authority rather than
on individual judgment, they devised IN
ingenious test which they gave to about q
thousand high school and college students. II
depended upon . trick.
First the students were told that "a group
of so outstanding persons in each Of several
occupations or professions recently stated their
opinions as to the best solution for the present
money problem"
Then they were given statements supposedly
from different groups such doctors lawyers,
clergymen. educators, business men and 50 ON.
The trick lay In the fact that all of the state-
ments although Wueded differently advocated
precisely the same thing The students were
asked to say which statement they liked the
best
The students swallowed it. for the most part,
hook, line and sinker. Only one student indt-
Gated that he saw throagh the original state
ment He said, Il have selected the lawyers
because if you can get . group of so lawyers
to agree on anything It must be right