The Effect of Verbal Suggestion upon Perseverance *From Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago.

By Irene Case Sherman, Ph.D. This study was made to determine the relationship between development as measured in terms of chronological and mental age and the effect of a verbal suggestion upon perseverance in a task which has been given up as unsolvable. The subjects were sixty-five children ranging in chronological age from six to sixteen years, in mental age by the Stanford-Binet scale from four to thirteen years, and in Intelligence Quotient from 40 to 89. A simple puzzle box was placed before the child, and he was told that by manipulating its three levers in the proper order the box could be opened. Actually, the door was so fastened on the inside that the box could not be opened. The time during which the child attempted to open the box was taken. When he indicated that he could not open it, he was told, "I am sure you can get the box open. You almost had it several times." The time during which he again attempted to open the box was then taken.