Dennis:
In your test (see excerpts below), were the test takers allowed to calculate
a result (and were they allowed to use calculators)? In the case of the
number of people who knew that a cubic foot is equal to 1728 cubic inches, I
was not surprised that it was so low; I was surprised that it was as high as
it was.
I suspect they didn't really know it, but that they could calculate it (if
that was allowed). Compare those numbers with the number who knew that a US
gallon is equal to 231 cubic inches. There, the answer cannot be found by
calculation even with a calculator so the results were MUCH lower (as low as
they could be, namely ZERO).
I think the number of cubic inches in a cubic foot would have had a result
of zero also, if the respondants had been required to know the answer rather
than allowed to calculate it. (I also think the results would be lower if
they have to hand calculate it rather than using a calculator. That's why I
wonder which was the case here.)
> From: "Dennis Brownridge" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: [USMA:9385] American's knowledge of SI vs. WOMBAT
>
> ...
> 14. cubic foot = 1728 cubic inches: 14% 37%
> ...
> 17. U.S. gallon = 231 cubic inches: 0% 0%
> ...
Thanks, Dennis, for the fascinating and useful results.
Regards,
bill Hooper
