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 some critics have thought, mainly a test of schooling.
The main criticism to be made is that it imposes a somewhat difficult task upon the power of language 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 were moved up to the adult group, two out of three successes being required for a pass. Kuhlmann places it in year XV, using “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. How many boxes are there altogether, counting the big one?” To be sure that the subject understands repeat the statement of the problem: “First the large box, then two smaller ones, and each of the smaller ones contains a little tiny box.”
Record the response, and, showing another box, say: “This box has two smaller boxes inside, and each of the smaller boxes contains two tiny boxes. How many altogether? Remember, first the large box, then two smaller ones, and each smaller one contains two tiny boxes.”
The third problem, which is given in the same way, states that there are three smaller boxes, each of which contains three tiny boxes.
In the fourth problem there are four smaller boxes, each containing four tiny boxes.
The problem must be given orally, and the solution must be found without the aid of pencil or paper. Only one half-minute is allowed for each problem. Note that each problem is stated twice.
A correction is permitted, provided it is offered spontaneously and does not seem to be the result of guessing. Guessing can be checked up by asking the subject to explain the solution.