Re: the words used in problems

[Bernard Cleyet <anngeorg@PACBELL.NET>]

I was taught correct English usage is one, not you.

bc, who was taught half a century ago.

Herbert H Gottlieb wrote:

> On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 15:33:32 -0600 "David T. Marx" <dtmarx@ILSTU.EDU>
> writes:
>
>
> > I have wondering recently as to whether studies have been done in
> > which problems are written in different ways to determine students'
> > success or failure to answer them simply based on the way in which
> > the problems are worded.  Also, I had heard recently that using the
> > word "you" in a problem is better than using "a physics student" or
> > "Jimmy" makes a difference in a student's ability to answer
> > questions.  Does anyone have information on these issues?
> >
> > Thanks in advance, David Marx  Illinois State University
> -------------- --------------- ---------------- ------------
> Such issues are in the realm of psychology rather than physics.
> There is a high liklihood that the issue of problem-wording
> has already been addressed in theses that graduate students write to
> meet the requirements for an advanced college degrees.  If I'm
> correct, you may find a study proving that using the word "you"
> is preferable and another study proving that using the phrase,
> "a physics student" is preferable.  Such studies are very difficult
> to set up because human "variables" creep in.  So do not be
> surprised if you find a good study that "proves" it is better
> to use the word "you" and an equally good study that "proves"
> the opposite.
>
> Herb Gottlieb from New York City
> (Where calling a physics student "you" or "Jimmy" makes little
> or no difference in solving their physics problems)