The 33-exercise scientific method test in geography content

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Evidence · 6 claims (6 for) · 2 studies (2 design), q2 · 0 of 2 report an effect size · 6 claims rest on one study

Description

A paper-and-pencil geography assessment by Herring containing 33 multiple-option exercises designed to measure pupils' ability to use elements of the scientific method rather than recall geography content.

Components

• Scientific Method Test scale of 33 problems administered to about 500 pupils in each of grades III–VIII: The Scientific Method Test is a series of 33 scientific-thinking problems whose scale values are derived in this article. The data came from administering the test to about 500 pupils in each of grades III to VIII, with printed numbers tested of 362, 482, 518, 449, 500 and 498 across grades III to VIII. The final scale (Table X) orders the problems by difficulty, with problem 1 at 1.952 P.E. and problem 32 at 6.415 P.E. above zero, column C carrying values to the nearest tenth of a P.E. multiplied by 10. (Herring (1919))

Claims

• The second edition was tried with 140 grade and 141 high school pupils; seven exercises were discarded, and about 1800 grade pupils took the final test in May 1917 [+W]
• Class graphs from the test are judged sufficiently reliable, while individual graphs are usefully suggestive but the least reliable conclusion [+W]
• The test yields an analytical diagnosis of classes and individuals, illustrated by a pupil profile identifying specific abilities needing improvement [+W]
• Intermedian grade distances on the scientific-thinking scale are derived from the per cent of each grade's pupils lying between successive grade medians [+M]
• The zero point of the scale is located from the zero-scoring pupils, giving a weighted average distance O-MIII of 1.654 P.E. [+M]
• Problem positions are averaged across grades with a weighting scheme that distrusts per cents near 0% and 100% and omits entries 3 P.E. or more from the median [+M]

Related Products and Programmes

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Key Sources

• Herring, J. P. (1918). Measurement of some abilities in scientific thinking. Journal of Educational Psychology, 9(10), 535–558. doi:10.1037/h0075736
• Herring, J. P. (1919). Derivation of a scale to measure abilities in scientific thinking. The Journal of Educational Psychology. https://psycnet.apa.org/journal/edu

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	product
id	the-33-exercise-scientific-method-test-in-geography-content
title	The 33-exercise scientific method test in geography content
description	A paper-and-pencil geography assessment by Herring containing 33 multiple-option exercises designed to measure pupils' ability to use elements of the scientific method rather than recall geography content.
status	review
product_kind	assessment
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-24
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content

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