Schmeidler, G. (1964). Following Up on Cultural Lag (and How to Give it a Push). American Psychologist, 19(2), 137-138.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0038302
In this column, the author discusses the 1925 American Journal of Psychology's published list of 30 statements. This list was arranged like a true-false test, of which the author wrote, "In general it seems likely that if the list were submitted to a group of psychologists there would be less than 1% of unqualified affirmative answers [Nixon, 1925]." However, when Nixon administered the test to 359 students of elementary psychology in New York, more than one-third of all answers were affirmative, and each statement received some "true" answers. Nixon's estimate of psychologists' unqualified affirmatives seems almost as applicable now as it did in 1925. But what of nonpsychologists? A challenge to contemporary psychologists is implicit in Nixon's outdated list; and there might be practical benefits to psychology as a whole if someone accepted the challenge. Should such a contemporary list be established, its value could extend far beyond that of a discussion starter for the introductory course. It could serve as a directive for educational efforts of psychologists to laymen; and it ought to be an effective springboard for work in public relations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)