Just How Smarter Engineers Are Than Everyone Else 12

[Comcokid]

Someone just sent me this link and I thought I would share it here. Engineers as a whole are very modest; we focus on our jobs of designing things and solving problems, and never give much thought as to how we might compare with others on mental ability.

http://www.businessinsider.com/this...arter-engineers-are-than-everyone-else-2012-4

 

[GregLocock]

How amazing. A study by an academic finds that the longer you stay at uni the smarter you are (tho at least he doesn't say correlation implies causation). And that a study by a social scientist finds that social science students are relatively bright.


Now let's discuss observer bias, and designing surveys.

Humphrey: You know what happens: nice young lady comes up to you. Obviously you want to create a good impression, you don't want to look a fool, do you? So she starts asking you some questions: " Mr. Woolley, are you worried about the number of young people without jobs?"

Bernard: Yes

Humphrey: "Are you worried about the rise in crime among teenagers?"

Bernard: Yes

Humphrey: "Do you think there is a lack of discipline in our Comprehensive schools?"

Bernard: Yes

Humphrey: "Do you think young people welcome some authority and leadership in their lives?"

Bernard: Yes

Humphrey: "Do you think they respond to a challenge?"

Bernard: Yes

Humphrey: "Would you be in favour of reintroducing National Service?"

Bernard: Oh...well, I suppose I might be.

Humphrey: "Yes or no?"

Bernard: Yes

Humphrey: Of course you would, Bernard. After all you told her you can't say no to that. So they don't mention the first five questions and they publish the last one.

Bernard: Is that really what they do?

Humphrey: Well, not the reputable ones no, but there aren't many of those. So alternatively the young lady can get the opposite result.

Bernard: How?

Humphrey: "Mr. Woolley, are you worried about the danger of war?"

Bernard: Yes

Humphrey: "Are you worried about the growth of armaments?"

Bernard: Yes

Humphrey: "Do you think there is a danger in giving young people guns and teaching them how to kill?"

Bernard: Yes

Humphrey: "Do you think it is wrong to force people to take up arms against their will?"

Bernard: Yes

Humphrey: "Would you oppose the reintroduction of National Service?"

Bernard: Yes

Humphrey: There you are, you see Bernard. The perfect balanced sample.





Cheers

Greg Locock


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[patprimmer]

Thank you Greg.

I remembered a scene where Sir Humphrey rephrased a survey to get the result he wanted, but no way could I remember the details.

I think there was also another between Jim and Sir Humphrey involving workers rights and trade unions.

Regards
Pat
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[JohnRBaker]

One 'problem' with being an engineer is that while other people experience what's going on around them in a sort of haze of ignorance, we are constantly looking at things trying to figure out how it actually works. I'm constantly catching myself touching surface to see how smooth something is, or pushing it to see how sturdy it is, or looking to see how straight or plumb something is. It's like we can't just walk by without sizing things-up or considering why certain things were done one way and not another. It tends to drive my wife nuts. But then she worked over 25 years in dental offices and she still catches herself, when meeting someone for the first time, checking out their teeth and noting whether they appear to have practiced good dental hygiene or not. Once when I made a comment about her doing this she reminded me that I should be lucky that she hadn't worked for a gynecologist all those years ;-)

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[jmw]

The Marketing people have run studies that show that engineers use Spock like logic in their approach. Buying decisions by engineers are made based on analysis of the features and benefits but buying decisions made by everyone else are made based on emotion.

It is an important point when writing articles or presentations.
The presentation/article where you have an audience of non-engineers has to be shorn of technical detail and loaded with emotive stuff but the reverse is true when the engineers are the target audience.
It may be that engineers are by nature or training more logical and rational in everything they do.
This might also apply to such tests.

The author says he can't be sure that the subjects were getting more intelligent or just doing better at tests and it might be that all this does is look at how well people do tests based on their discipline and it has less to do with intelligence than they think.
I suspect there is a strong element of ability at tests in this; for example, if I regularly do the crossword I am usually able to reach a high level of completion but if I don't do it for a while, I am lucky to answer even one or two the next time I try.

PS why does this article single out engineers?
Ok, on specific ability levels the Maths/CS people score marginally better and it is only on General ability that engineers do better but perhaps that is because engineers can bring their way of thinking more easily into other areas than mathematicians can. Not sure that this study is really telling us anything.

Oh, except that educators seem to be proving the old adage about "those that can, do. Those that can't, teach". They appear to be down at the bottom for everything.



JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[GregLocock]

The three factors in the experiment exhibit strong correlation, so it seems unlikley he is measuring 3 things, in fact he seems to be measuring about 1.3 independent things.



Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

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[TheTick]

Are we enough smarter to write a correctly-grammared title to a thread about how smart we be?

 

[SnTMan]

"400,000 high schoolers" ??

 

[cranky108]

Are we smarter, or are the tests for intellegence actually about problem solving?

I know how a car works, but I can't seem to actually fix one.

 

[Comcokid]

Did anybody notice that the article was posted on a business web site, but the article places business majors near the bottom?

 

[oldfieldguy]

What's really disturbing is that education resides at the bottom of the chart, and THESE are the people who're supposed to be teaching the new generations.

old field guy

 

[MiketheEngineer]

I've met some pretty "smart" ditch diggers and some pretty "dumb" engineers....

Don't even/ever ask me to dress myself or pick out the paint for the bathroom. My wife will assure you that I haven't a clue.

Fix an engine, build a house, repair electrical or plumbing, even fly a plane - those are some of the things I can do in my sleep...

I believe it is in the eye of bee-holder!!

 

[cranky108]

I just have to question what the tests are really testing for.
Example; where do you have to go to school to be a perfessional wine (or beer) taster? Or perfume smeller?
I doubt any part of the test gives any review of those abilitys (not that they are useful outside there profession. And I used these extreme examples because I am trying to show a point).

I'm just trying to see how this, test or paper, has any real value, other than to excite, or enrage, people.

 

[SnTMan]

MiketheEngineer, don't be offended if I decline to go flying with you

Regards,

Mike

 

[MiketheEngineer]

SnTMan -

Don't blame you - Last flight I crashed - front wheel literally fell off the plane and we didn't know it until we landed. Really messed up the propeller and front of the plane!!! Looked down the end of the runway - and there it sat!! OH CRAP... Good it was a rental and well insured..

 

[SnTMan]

Wow, I was only jokingly referring to you flying in your sleep!

Glad you're OK
Sorry you crashed
Glad it wasn't your plane

 

[JohnRBaker]

...where do you have to go to school to be a perfessional wine (or beer) taster?

http://www.internationalwineguild.com/wine-school

http://www.germanbeerinstitute.com/styles.html

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[SnTMan]

Oh, and good reason to fly taildraggers, not one ever lost a nosewheel

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Taildraggers - like some people tend to "ground loop"

Tell you what - I didn't have to touch the brakes - it stopped QUICK

 

[berkshire]

SnTMan (Mechanical)

'''Oh, and good reason to fly taildraggers, not one ever lost a nosewheel'''

They do however have a disturbing tendancy to balance on the mainwheels and the propellor if you hit the brakes too hard.
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor