A MEASURE OF SOCIAL OPINIONS OF STUDENTS.

The article focuses on the social opinion in sociology. A survey conducted on students suggested that about 49% of students are of the opinion that men today are true rational beings, that about 46 % are of the opinion that most backward peoples are undoubtedly inferior in their native mental capacity. About 65% feel that radical papers should be destroyed, that about 18% feel that moralities will always be the same while about 12% feel that revolution by force is the only hope for the workers. Probably the outstanding test of opinion today is the "Watson Test of Public Opinion." It is extremely thorough and reliable. However, it seems to have certain disadvantages for regular class-room use. It is expensive; it is a burden to score; and it covers only certain religious and economic issues. The test is presented with the hope that some may use it as an aid in examining objectively certain social opinions in want of any other brief but reliable test, and also with the hope that others may be stimulated to develop similar tests adapted to local needs and interests.