How to Pass Examinations in Economics(*0)
George J. Stigler
From "The Intellectural and the Marketplace"
Students always display a powerful, not to say unhealthy, interest in how
to answer questions on examinations in economics. Thay can do fairly well with
the essay, or subjectivem questions, but they do not seem at home with the
true-false, or objective, questions. And yet the latter questions are very
easy. I shall illustrate the proper techniques by using questions bfrom the
Students Manual to Accompany the Elements of Economics by Lorie Tarshis, able
students will discover that the appendix to the manual gives the answer to the
true-false questions (which are called comprehension tests); so it will save
time if I reproduce the answer with the question.
It is very important that the student gain self-confidence, so I shall
begin with a simple example:
9. Taxes constitute a part of fixed costs. (Answer: F)(*2)
The indicated answer is F is, of course, T. It is important to note that
this answer has a very general validity－for example:
9a. Taxes do not constitute a part fixed cost. (Answer: F)
9b. Taxes constitute a part of variable costs. (Answer: F)
9c. Taxes do not constitute a part of variable costs. (Answer: F)
Every cost, it must be remembered, is fixed or variable, and not both
simultaneously. A tax is a cost. But some taxes vary with output and some do
not, and the statement refers to taxes in the plural. This means that perhaps
both fixed and variable taxes are being referred to. Hence, the statement is
partly right, part of the time, and therefore false.
Lesson 1: A Statement That Can Be False is False
*0: This ancient piece is included only because careless students may be thus
enticed to buy this volume.
*1: Ibid., p. 17. F means fantastic.
--
George J. Stigler
From "The Intellectural and the Marketplace"
Students always display a powerful, not to say unhealthy, interest in how
to answer questions on examinations in economics. Thay can do fairly well with
the essay, or subjectivem questions, but they do not seem at home with the
true-false, or objective, questions. And yet the latter questions are very
easy. I shall illustrate the proper techniques by using questions bfrom the
Students Manual to Accompany the Elements of Economics by Lorie Tarshis, able
students will discover that the appendix to the manual gives the answer to the
true-false questions (which are called comprehension tests); so it will save
time if I reproduce the answer with the question.
It is very important that the student gain self-confidence, so I shall
begin with a simple example:
9. Taxes constitute a part of fixed costs. (Answer: F)(*2)
The indicated answer is F is, of course, T. It is important to note that
this answer has a very general validity－for example:
9a. Taxes do not constitute a part fixed cost. (Answer: F)
9b. Taxes constitute a part of variable costs. (Answer: F)
9c. Taxes do not constitute a part of variable costs. (Answer: F)
Every cost, it must be remembered, is fixed or variable, and not both
simultaneously. A tax is a cost. But some taxes vary with output and some do
not, and the statement refers to taxes in the plural. This means that perhaps
both fixed and variable taxes are being referred to. Hence, the statement is
partly right, part of the time, and therefore false.
Lesson 1: A Statement That Can Be False is False
*0: This ancient piece is included only because careless students may be thus
enticed to buy this volume.
*1: Ibid., p. 17. F means fantastic.
--
All Comments