Alternative Test 1: Naming The Months


PROCEDURE. Simply ask the subject to "_name all the months of the

year_." Do not start him off by naming one month; give no look of

approval or disapproval as the months are being named, and make no

suggestions or comments of any kind.



When the months have been named, we "check up" the performance by

asking: "_What month comes before April?_" "_What month comes before

July?_" "_What month comes before Nov
mber?_"



SCORING. Passed if the months are named in about _fifteen or twenty

seconds with no more than one error_ of omission, repetition, or

displacement, and if _two out of the three check questions_ are answered

correctly. Disregard place of beginning.



REMARKS. Some are inclined to consider this test of little value,

because of its supposed dependence on accidental training. With this

opinion we cannot fully agree. The arguments already given in favor of

the retention of naming the days of the week (year VII), apply equally

well in the present case. It has been shown, however, that age, apart

from intelligence, does have some effect on the ability to name the

months. Defective adults of 9-year intelligence do about as well with it

as normal children of 10-year intelligence.



The test appears in year X of Binet's 1908 scale and in year IX of the

1911 revision. Goddard places it correctly in year IX, while Kuhlmann

and Bobertag have omitted it.



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